Criminal Justice

The report provides a brief description of the events in Marikana against the backdrop of the history of mining in apartheid South Africa and the subsequent transition to democracy. It unpacks the various initiatives undertaken in response to the massacre, focusing particularly on the measures to address the needs of injured and arrested mineworkers as well as the families of those who were killed. In seeking to unpack corporate accountability and corporate responses, the report focuses particular attention on the initiatives undertaken by the mining company (Lonmin and later Sibanye) in addressing victim and community needs in the wake of the massacre. The report seeks to understand the various perspectives of different stakeholders on these initiatives, and the opportunities and challenges faced in taking these processes forward.

This policy brief presents a summary assessment of the progress made in providing redress for victims of the Marikana Massacre,1 when 34 striking miners were killed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2012 and ten people were killed in the conflict that led up to it. In the ten years since the massacre, there has been meagre progress in addressing its consequences. Direct victims and their relatives have not received full reparations, the community of Marikana remains underdeveloped and deeply divided, and the apartheid legacy of the mining sector in South Africa remains an unresolved wound in the national psyche. An integrated approach is required to address both the systemic injustices and the specific legacies of the Marikana Massacre, while being clear about the specific responsibilities of all the stakeholders.

A newsletter that contains three articles from members then gives updates from member organisations on recent activities. These insightful writings cover topics focusing on discriminatory torture of LGBTIQ+ persons which highlights the Azul case and work on protection of marginalised persons from violence. In addition to this the critical role of independent policing oversight bodies in enhancing police accountability is highlighted.