Sikhala Sonke eMarikana Press Statement

20 March 2014

We are the Women of Marikana and we will occupy Wonderkop Stadium Tomorrow on Human Rights Day, 21 March 2014.

 

The women of Marikana have been denied the right to March to Lonmin. The protest permit was refused today because Lonmin refused to write a letter granting permission for the women to march tomorrow.

But we will still go ahead with our plans to hand over a memorandum of our grievances as a community and as the women of Marikana which we feel Lonmin should address. The public safety department was willing to allow us to march but it is Lonmin who has refused our call. What gives Lonmin the right to decide on our constitutional right to march?

We will be gathered outside the Wonderkop stadium from 9am tomorrow morning till someone from Lonmin arrives to receive the memorandum.

We appeal to the media to cover this event and to hear and make public our grievances which are as follows:

1. The period of striking has been too long and there has been no real increase in wages

2. The whole community is suffering from hunger

3. The little payment received is not enough because it is still taxed

4. There is now robbery taking place in the community and people are not safe

5. Many children are unable to attend school because parents cannot afford transport and because there is not enough to eat and they are hungry

6. There are still no roads and services in most of the community

All of the above mentioned grievances increase the risk of 16th August 2012 repeating itself and we, as the women of Marikana, do not want that to take place again. We say enough is enough!

For more information please contact:

Thumeka @ 084 714 0111

Nomsikelo @ 060 426 9319