Remember Marikana

#RememberMarikana

Today marks the four year commemoration of the Marikana massacre. The EFF in the Western Cape chose to mark this day with a sombre remembrance of the mineworkers who were murdered by the police in collusion with narrow political and corporate interests by erecting crosses with the faces, names and ages of the victims of the massacre on Sea Point promenade.

We would like to thank those members of the public from all walks of life who engaged with our commemoration, as well as private citizens who assisted with this commemoration.

It is sad that the police chose to hide behind City of Cape Town by-laws to remove these crosses and issue a fine of a thousand rand on Roscoe Palm, one of our fighters. Free speech isn’t free, and the irony of such an action by law enforcement is clearly lost on them and the City of Cape Town.

As a means of protest, our engagement was peaceful and encouraged dialogue and reflection from all – black, white and coloured, rich and poor, men and women, the young and the old.

All South Africans must pause and reflect on the most brutal display of power at the Marikana massacre. It is a stain on our history that can never be removed. It is our post liberation shame, and it is only through remembering that we ensure that never again will such atrocities be inflicted on the people by the full might of the state and capital.

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