Marikana - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema was given a hero’s welcome when he arrived in Marikana on Friday to press criminal charges against deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
EFF supporters sang, danced, ululated and whistled to welcome their so-called “commander-in-chief”, forming a guard of honour as the fiery leader of the South Africa’s third largest opposition party entered the Marikana police station.
Malema was expected to lay criminal charges against Ramaphosa, former police pinister Nathi Mthethwa, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, former North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo, and the Lonmin mine for the role they played in the shooting dead of 34 mineworkers by police on August 16, 2012.
The EFF believes Ramaphosa should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of the mine workers. Ramaphosa held shares in Lonmin and was a non-executive director of the mining company until his appointment as deputy president in 2014.
The Farlam Commission of Inquiry, which was appointed by President Jacob Zuma to probe the labour related violence which claimed a total of 44 lives during August 2012, cleared Ramaphosa and Mthethwa of any wrongdoing.
Malema was expected to lay charges against Ramaphosa and Mthethwa for allegedly conspiring to kill mine workers.
He would also lay a similar complaint against Lonmin management, and also also wants the company held responsible for not doing enough to protect workers.
Malema wants Phiyega and Mbombo charged for ordering police to shoot the striking miners.
The Farlam commission found that Lonmin did not do its best to resolve disputes that arose between itself and its workers.
The commissioned blamed most Phiyega and Mbombo for the poor decision making leading up to the tragedy.
ANA