CHARLES MOLELE
THE African National Congress (ANC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have called for the reopening of the Lily Mine, situated just outside Barberton, in Mpumalanga.
The leadership of the tripartite alliance said it demands the reopening of the mine within 30 days, and the reinstatement of all workers.
The move would allow for the retrieval of the bodies of three employees who have been trapped underground since 2016.
The alliance leaders made the call during the Worker’s Day at Lily Mine, in Mpumalanga. The alliance’s delegation was led by ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, COSATU’s General Secretary, Solly Phetoe, and the SACP’s Deputy General Secretary, Madala Masuku.
“The ANC sympathises with the families of the three miners who were victims of the collapse of a container in 2016, and it is our desire to see this painful matter being resolved. The accident was caused by the failure of a crown pillar at the mine. A crown pillar is a horizonal safety precaution left to protect the underground workings,” said Mbalula.
“The ANC salutes COSATU and millions of workers in our country on the occasion of the commemoration of May Day. We celebrate the role played by the labour movement in the global struggle against inequality. The ANC remains the political home for the overwhelming majority of workers.”
Earlier, ActionSA accused the ANC and its alliance partners of visiting the Lily Mine without consulting the families of the deceased miners, Solomon Nyirenda, Pretty Nkambule and Yvonne Mnisi.
“The victims’ families are angry by the (May Day) planned march to Lily mine because according to them, ANC and COSATU are part of the problem as they are government of the day, and since the incident they distance themselves from retrieving the bodies. The question is why now,” said Thoko Mashiane, ActionSA Mpumalanga Provincial Chairperson.
“The families held the prayer session today to mark 4 years since they camp outside the mine waiting for justice for their loved ones. We will continue to support the former miners and families because ActionSA values the lives and dignity of every South Africans, and will not stand by while our citizens are abused and disregarded by their own government and today they want to claim easy victories as if they care.”
Almost seven years since the incident, family members and members of the public are still seeking answers as to what exactly happened at 08:10 am on the 5th of February 2016.
According to police and local authorities, the crown pillar located between the roof of level three and four underground collapsed and caved into the old underground workings of the mine.
As a result, the lamp room, which was part of the surface infrastructure also fell in and was buried under the rubble.
Inside the lamp room were three individuals – Nyirenda, Nkambule and Mnisi. Seventy-six employees were also trapped underground but were subsequently rescued through a narrow ventilation shaft.
To this day, the families of the victims are still awaiting answers after the mine owners and government failed to assist them and retrieve the bodies.
INSIDE POLITICS
