North West - The Inter-Ministerial Committee, appointed by President Jacob Zuma after 34 people were killed in Marikana, will maintain a presence in the area, the presidency said on Tuesday.
“The government remains of the conviction that this is not the time for apportioning blame, finger-pointing or exploiting this national tragedy to advance narrow and petty political agendas,” the presidency said in a statement.
“Neither must violence replace dialogue which has become synonymous with the new and democratic South Africa in resolving problems.”
The committee will operate from the office of the executive mayor of Rustenburg, Mpho Khunou.
The committee includes Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini -Zuma, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Co-operative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi, North West Premier Thandi Modise and Khunou.
The presidency called on leaders in all sectors of society to unite citizens in prayer.
It said the inter-ministerial committee decided on a number of interventions to assist the families of those who died, and those who were injured.
This included psycho-social support through a team of social workers who would be stationed in the area to provide care for orphaned children.
The committee would also engage the services of the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to help find a resolution to the wage dispute between Lonmin and workers. - Sapa