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- The delivery of 15 outstanding houses for the widows of the Marikana massacre is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
- This was revealed by Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman on Friday during a a webinar about the Marikana Renewal Process.
- The process is an initiative with ReimagineSA to continue the healing process in Marikana.
As reparations continue for those affected by the Marikana massacre in 2012, the delivery of 15 outstanding houses for the Marikana widows is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
This is according to Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman on Friday, during a webinar about the Marikana renewal process, an initiative with ReimagineSA to continue the healing process.
When Sibanye-Stillwater acquired the Marikana operations in June 2019 from Lonmin, the mining company understood the need for the tragic events in which 44 people died between 10 and 16 August 2012 to be recognised, Froneman said.
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Thirty-four miners were killed on 16 August 2012 by police near the Marikana mine during a wage strike. This has become known as the Marikana massacre.
Before the miners were gunned down, 10 people were killed, including two security guards and two police officers.
"In many ways, these events represented an inflexion point in South Africa and in the mining industry. We know that as a company, we did not even exist at that time, but despite that, we believe that we have an important role to play going forward," Froneman said.
READ | 8 years on, families of Marikana's dead still waiting for justice
"It is our hope that through delivering tangible and sustainable programmes for the benefit of local communities around Marikana, a new legacy of healing and hope will emerge."
Since taking over the mining operations, Froneman said that Sibanye-Stillwater had committed to building all the outstanding houses for the Marikana widows.
Year
"So far, we have handed over seven houses, and eight are at different stages of construction. The delivery of the 15 outstanding houses will be completed by the end of this year."
He added that a wall of remembrance erected at the main entrance of the Marikana operations is part of acknowledging the victims of the tragedy and that ongoing counselling to the widows and their children have been provided.
"Through the Lonmin memorial fund, Sibanye-Stillwater supported the education of 89 dependents at a total cost of R3.6 million. Five of these dependents completed their final year of school in 2020, with nine at tertiary level.
"Through the [Sixteen Eight Memorial Trust Fund], we continue to support 141 beneficiaries through counselling and educational assistance. The trust spent R6.5 million in educational assistance in 2020 alone. An important part of honouring the lives that were lost is also pursuing justice, and we are committed to doing this, and this process is now well under way."
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As part of the renewal process, the mining operation had also engaged with all stakeholders, including the Marikana community. He said:
"Our relationship and engagement with our doorstep communities in South Africa is expected to be greatly enhanced in 2021, with our efforts to rebuild trust and formalise a social and economic impact, largely based on the Zambezi protocol.
"The Zambezi protocol prioritises mutually respectful relationships, which will help to develop a more trusting relationship amongst vital stakeholders."
The initiative aims to facilitate conversations to promote walking together to create social and economic development.
"First, by optimally managing our business in a responsible way and in so doing, creating and sustaining jobs, paying salaries and wages to employees who live and work in the community by paying taxes and royalties, channelling stronger flow of value into the local community through local procurement and creating direct and indirect economic opportunities that will ultimately lead to economic upliftment and social well-being," Froneman said.
He added that the first step in realising this vision had already been achieved as the Marikana operations had been restored to profitability.
"Our recently announced commitment to invest R4 billion in the K4 Project, creating 4 400 direct jobs over an extended future will have a major impact on the local economy and, again very importantly, ensure sustainability."
