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africa|business|energy|environment|financial|fire|housing|mining|resources|service|sustainable|operations

Marikana massacre commemorated with second yearly memorial lecture

Marikana remembered with second memorial lecture

17th August 2021

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

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The interdependence between business and stakeholders has never been more critical, nor has the need for collaboration to learn from past events and ensure they are never repeated, Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman said during the second yearly Marikana Memorial Lecture, on August 17.

The lecture was held to commemorate the August 16, 2012, Marikana massacre, when members of the South African Police Service opened fire on striking miners at a hill near the mine, killing 34 people and injuring others after a prolonged strike event.

The Marikana mine was subsequently acquired by Sibanye as part of its acquisition of Lonmin in June 2019. Froneman has since pledged to address the wrongs of the past through Sibanye’s Marikana Renewal programme.

Most recently, as part of the programme, the miner has committed to build 16 homes for the widows of the miners killed during the incident, as well as to provide financial assistance through the Sixteen-Eight Memorial Trust to fund the educational requirements of 141 beneficiaries with R48.5-million having already been spent by December 2020.

In addition, Sibanye offered employment to 23 widows and 21 family members and pledged to develop integrated housing for nearby communities, among other endeavours.

Since taking on the Marikana operations at a time when the mine’s survival was under threat, Froneman said, Sibanye’s first step was to restore operating effectiveness as the basis of sustainable operations.

“Based on the success achieved that created financial stability, I was pleased earlier this year to announce the R4-billion investment in extending the mine life by bringing the K4 shaft into production, with the creation of 4 400 new jobs.”

Froneman said this would help greatly in providing sustained local employment that goes some way to addressing the crisis of unemployment, especially among the youth, and also creates the potential to build local supply chains that will support entrepreneurial growth in the local communities.

“We have recently launched a programme that will support 20 local entrepreneurs to build their businesses and participate in our supply chains,” he added.

CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, meanwhile, said the Marikana commemoration was a double-edged sword because it, firstly, reminded the mining industry of an unfortunate and regrettable event in its past, which must never be repeated and, secondly, it implored the industry to strive for the higher ideals amplified by the Constitution.

“This occasion puts into sharp relief the societal expectations regarding the exploitation of minerals resources. This tectonic shift in paradigm emphasises the notion that mining policies should go beyond the frontiers of legal compliance to meet societal expectations,” he said.

Mantashe added that it was in this context that the changes in the governance of natural resources have expanded the range of stakeholders in the management of natural resources. “The result of these shifts has been the establishment of social partnerships between the State, the private sector and the civil society.”

He said that, as such, it was now common to see the embodiment of the elements of a social licence being part of the law, thereby amplifying the voice of the affected communities in minerals governance.

Further, keynote speaker for the commemorative lecture, ReimagineSA co-founder Dr Mamphela Ramphele said the mining industry in South Africa would have a brighter future if it were to embrace wisdom brought by the concept of Ubuntu, and transform its operations from extractive models towards regenerative ones.

“Regenerative open spaces for all participants are essential for all to bring their best into the collaborative work to generate shared prosperity,” she said.

In addition, Ramphele said a transformed institutional culture could affirm the dignity of all involved in the mining industry and celebrate the diverse contributions each participant brings to it. “Imagine the rise in energy levels that would be unleashed. Imagine the growing trust levels that would encourage all to share their ideas because they would know that each one of them matters and they are better together.”

She added that a transition from the traditional colonial extractive mining model would require investments in transformative processes to bring people along into a future that would be better than the past and present. “Such a transition requires healing of the wounds of past models.”

Meanwhile, Froneman said Sibanye had engaged fully in this anniversary week of the 2012 Marikana tragedy, acknowledging and honouring the past, but also looking forward to plan the future Sibanye wishes to see for the mining industry and those impacted by it.

“In moving forward, all parties, whether it is the company, the State, employees or communities, need to bring their best selves to the party to contribute equally to a socio-economic compact that uplifts lives and unlocks possibilities,” he said.

In this regard, Froneman said Sibanye was not the social partner in the equation, but rather the economic partner providing “very substantial” social support.

“We rely on other stakeholders to be the social partners, acknowledging their responsibility to creating an environment where business can prosper, creating employment, thereby reducing poverty and inequality.

"Through a socioeconomic compact and a new way of thinking, we can change the trajectory of our country and company,” he concluded.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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