MARİKANA, North West — Fourteen years after the tragic Marikana massacre claimed the lives of 34 striking mineworkers, AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa has fiercely criticized the South African democratic government, labeling it a “fake democracy” that has fundamentally failed the working class.
The 14th commemorative event in the North West province faced significant logistical challenges before the union leader could address the crowd. The start of the program was delayed by several hours, and the main stage was ultimately declared unsafe. These complications forced Mathunjwa to deliver his impassioned speech near the infamous gathering site where union members and supporters had assembled.
Without mincing words, Mathunjwa described the nation’s current political landscape as a betrayal of the Freedom Charter, which promised that the people would share in the country’s wealth. Instead, he argued, workers who organize stayaways and face operational disruptions are met with a mere R5 in compensation from a system he described as being led by “fake revolutionaries.”
“This country is rich in resources but poor in leadership,” Mathunjwa declared to the crowd. He accused current political figures of obsessing over the prosperity of great-grandchildren yet to be born, actively securing their own futures while compromising the futures of today’s workers and their children.
The harsh realities of mining life were heavily echoed by the workers in attendance, particularly concerning deteriorating living standards. One mineworker, who has spent two decades in the industry, expressed deep frustration over the lack of basic housing.
“We are living in harsh conditions. We are working, but where we live is not right. You see there are shacks everywhere,” the miner stated, noting that despite 20 years of continuous service, he still resides in informal settlements. He also raised critical concerns regarding union independence, arguing that a union loses its power if it is financially reliant on the mines. To ensure true representation, he suggested that regional union leaders should be compensated directly by the union’s president rather than the mining companies.
Addressing these systemic issues, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) stressed that it is working tirelessly to improve living conditions but remains severely hindered by state inaction. Mathunjwa pointed out that mining companies routinely pledge to build schools, roads, and houses when applying for mining licenses, yet consistently fail to deliver on these social commitments.
He placed the blame squarely on the government for failing to enforce compliance and for inexplicably renewing mining licenses for corporations that have not built a single house. Despite the union pushing hard for community development, Mathunjwa lamented that they are continually let down by the regulatory bodies and the very same democratic government that the people voted into power.
Bringing the focus back to the tragic events of 14 years prior, Mathunjwa reiterated his profound disappointment that, more than a decade after police shot dead 34 mineworkers, not a single person has been held accountable for the Marikana massacre.