Johannesburg - Civil society groups on Tuesday voiced support for a Marikana solidarity campaign, calling for action to address the “humanitarian crisis” in the area.
“There are other continuing forms of suffering in Marikana associated with the strike, including crises of access to food, health care and access to schools for children,” lobby group Section 27 said in a statement.
“This crisis is affecting the entire community and surrounding areas. These hardships have been exacerbated by the actions of the police over the weekend.”
Workers at Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, in the North West, went on strike demanding a salary increase.
On August 16, 34 workers were killed when police opened fire on them, and 78 were wounded. Afterwards, 270 workers were arrested.
Another man was found dead last week, bring the number of people killed since the beginning of the strike to 45.
Section 27 was speaking on behalf of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute, the Students for Law and Social Justice Lawyers for Human Rights, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Treatment Action Campaign.
“The people of Marikana are entitled to the rights of freedom of association, expression, assembly and association like all South Africans,” it said.
“But we believe that the current police operation must be lawful in all respects, that there should be independent monitoring of police actions in the area and that it cannot be at the expense of fundamental human rights.”
The SAHRC had a responsibility to protect human rights and had been requested to assist in finding solutions, Section 27 added.
“The crisis of Marikana is not a crisis of one community alone, it is a crisis for every community.” - Sapa