EFF marks Workers’ Day by remembering Marikana fallen


The Commander in Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema says when the EFF becomes the governing party, the people of Marikana will get justice for the massacre of mineworkers in August 2012.

Speaking during the party’s workers day rally held at Tlhapi Sports ground in Marikana, North West, Malema also condemns the recent spate of xenophobic attacks.

Malema says his wish is to make Marikana a better place.

“For as long as the EFF is still alive, Marikana will remain alive and one day Marikana will receive justice. The day the EFF takes government, the people of Marikana will receive justice. What is justice to the people of Marikana? It is not only about those who survived to make sure that Marikana becomes a beautiful township because there are minerals here.”

VIDEO | EFF celebrates Worker’s day in Marikana

National Spokesperson of the EFF, Sinawo Thambo, says the commemoration of Workers’ Day serves to honour those killed in the Marikana Massacre in 2012, adding that their struggle for better working and living conditions continues.
Thambo says despite the area’s vast mineral wealth, many surrounding communities remain impoverished, with mining companies failing to reinvest in local development, including schools, clinics and broader community upliftment.
“Look as you said, it’s where we were born, it’s what inspired the formation of our organisation. So coming here to commemorate Workers’ Day is something that is very close to our hearts and we know that the conditions of the people in the North West have not changed even though they are surrounded by mineral wealth. The mining corporations in this province do not reinvest in the communities, they don’t build schools, they do not build clinics or even try and uplift the people here. We are here to pay homage to the workers that were massacred in Marikana in 2012 and tell them that the mission that they were pursuing is still ongoing and that they blood was not shed in vein.”