The ongoing quest for justice: Remembering the Marikana massacre

Fourteen years have passed since 34 striking mineworkers were shot and killed by police at Marikana, and their families and survivors are still yearning for justice and accountability. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) emphasized the painful reminder that many families are still grappling with the consequences of the violence.

On August 16, 2012, police opened fire on striking mineworkers, killing 34 and injuring at least 78, while 10 other people, including two Lonmin security guards, two police officers, and six mineworkers, lost their lives on August 13. SERI stated that the massacre remains the deadliest use of force by South African police since the Soweto student uprising of 1976.

Despite the constitutional obligation on the state to protect rights and hold those responsible to account, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has failed to prosecute anyone for the events of August 16, 2012. Acquittals in 2021 and 2024 further highlight the challenges in pursuing accountability. The NPA cited personnel and resource constraints in 2023 for its failure to prosecute the Marikana cases, but SERI argues that the passage of time has weakened the state's case.

The financial fallout continues, with the state paying R352 million in settlements to some of the injured and unlawfully arrested miners and their families. However, over 120 people received nothing, emphasizing that compensation cannot replace criminal accountability or answers about the events. As the NPA under new National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi begins a new chapter, SERI urges the NPA to provide a detailed account of the outstanding Marikana prosecutions and a concrete timeline for further action.

The organization emphasizes that the state's failure to deliver justice has significant financial and emotional consequences for the families waiting for answers.