BOSA
BOSA calls on Ramaphosa to declare August 16 Marikana Memorial Day, urging the president to officially commemorate the tragic killing of 34 mineworkers during the 2012 massacre. The party highlights the ongoing pain of families still seeking justice 13 years later, with victims planning court action for a formal apology and accountability from those involved.
Urgent Plea for National Recognition of Tragic Loss
Build One South Africa (BOSA) is pushing for President Cyril Ramaphosa to proclaim August 16 as Marikana Memorial Day, a dedicated time each year to remember the 34 mineworkers shot dead by police on that day in 2012. The call comes as the nation marks the 13th anniversary of the massacre, a dark chapter in South Africa’s history where striking workers at Lonmin’s platinum mine in the North West were killed while demanding better wages and living conditions.
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomon says the president is empowered through proclamation to declare any day to be observed and commemorated. “There is no closure and there’s incomplete justice for many, many families who are now fatherless and brotherless and who have lost sons, and this is a blemish; hence, we ought to right these wrongs, and as BOSA, we are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare 16 August Marikana Memorial Day,” Solomon said.
The massacre unfolded on 16 August 2012 at the Koppie in Marikana, where police opened fire on striking workers, killing 34 and injuring over 78 in what became the deadliest use of force by security since apartheid’s end. The workers, employed by Lonmin (now Sibanye-Stillwater), were protesting for a living wage of R12,500 monthly, better housing, and safer conditions amid a wildcat strike that turned violent. Ten others, including police and security guards, died in preceding clashes.
Families Still Await Justice and Apology 13 Years On
Victims and families of the Marikana massacre are still waiting for justice, 13 years on, and they now plan to head to the courts to force the president to issue a formal apology. Widows and survivors have long appealed for remorse from Ramaphosa, who was a Lonmin non-executive director at the time and sent emails urging action against the “dastardly criminal” strikers just before the shootings. Despite his 2017 apology as deputy president, calling it “disingenuous” by critics, many feel it fell short, with no full admission of guilt or comprehensive remedy.      
Justice remains elusive: no prosecutions for the 34 killed on August 16, despite the Farlam Commission’s 2015 findings of police misconduct and recommendations for accountability. Dozens of miners still await fair compensation, with some receiving partial payouts from the state and company, but many families struggle without breadwinners. A 2022 report highlighted failures in remedy, noting the company’s aggressive lobbying for state intervention, which escalated the violence.    
Survivors bemoan low wages persisting in the mining sector, comparing them unfavourably to global standards, and call for meaningful change as the anniversary approaches. 
EFF Reiterates Demand for Accountability
Marikana Massacre 13 years on: EFF reiterates accountability, committing to fight for justice alongside the families until mining bosses and officials are held responsible. The party has consistently demanded motions of no confidence and probes into the massacre, viewing it as a symbol of ongoing exploitation in the sector.   
The EFF rejects narratives blaming workers, instead pointing to systemic failures and the need for land reform, better wages, and dignity for miners. Their stance aligns with broader calls for remedy, including further arrests or charges against those involved.  
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