He says the Commission of Inquiry headed by the retired Judge Farlam investigated the root cause of the tragedy and three broad areas were identified for action. This includes compensation to the victims and families of those who lost their lives, examination of procedures of public order policing, and preparation for prosecution. During his reply to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate, Ramaphosa said this will be concluded in the coming months. He says the Marikana incident also brought attention to the distress felt by mining communities, such as those in the North West.

He says the government is in engagement with the legal representatives of the victims, and he is prepared to address the role he played as a Lonmin shareholder.

This, as President Cyril Ramaphosa was, among others, blamed for the Marikana massacre six years ago and barred from attending its five-year commemoration last year. Ramaphosa was, at the time of the massacre, a major Lonmin shareholder and non-executive director who had called for concomitant action to end the unprotected strike by miners, of whom 34 were gunned down by the police.

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