Marikana miners file R1bn
claim against government
2015-08-14 21:28
Adam Wakefield, News24
Johannesburg - The miners arrested and
injured at Marikana launched a civil claim against government totalling more
than R1bn on Friday, their lawyer said.
"The team led by Advocate Dali Mpofu,
SC, launched the civil suit on behalf of 275 miners," the miners' lawyer
Andries Nkome told News24.
"The suit launched is for financial
compensation for unlawful arrest, unlawful detention as well as malicious
prosecution. The civil suit is against the Presidency, against the National
Prosecuting Authority, and against the SAPS."
He said, on average, they were claiming R3m
per mine worker, but in some cases compensation was somewhat more.
"Over and above that, we issued a
summons on behalf of the miners who were injured during that fateful week in
Marikana," he said.
They have more than 50 civil suits for the
injuries sustained at that time, including one for injuries resulting in a
miner's permanent disability.
The compensation sought by the injured miners
averaged "a bit higher" than R3m.
The civil claims were filed in the High Court
in Pretoria.
On Tuesday morning, families of the 37
mineworkers killed at Marikana filed their own claim in the same court against
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.
The families are represented by the
Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (SERI), the Legal Resources Centre (LRC)
and Wits Law Clinic.
They are claiming compensation for:
- Loss of financial support;
- Grief and emotional shock caused by the
deaths of their family members and caregivers;
- Medical expenses of psychological and psychiatric
treatment;
- Loss of family life and parental care.
"The families also claim a formal
apology from the minister of police for the loss of their loved ones," the
SERI and LRC said.
"An apology will bring much needed closure to the families who feel they have been abandoned by the South African government."
"An apology will bring much needed closure to the families who feel they have been abandoned by the South African government."
On August 16 2012, police shot dead 34
striking mine workers at Lonmin's mine in Marikana, in the North West. The
remaining three were killed on August 13, among 10 killed in the week prior to
the main shooting incident.
