"How can you be poor when you are sitting on platinum?" the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) boss asked thousands of union members. 

Mathunjwa said the initial offer tabled by Sibanye in the Marikana operations at the platinum wage increase negotiations was an insult to the slain mineworkers. 

"They are spitting on the graves of our fellow workers, Sibanye-Stillwater offers R300 for the first year, R350 for the second year and R400 on the third year for Lonmin workers, while across the street at the Rustenburg operation [formerly Anglo Platinum] they offer R600, R700 and R800.

"We have turned corners with Lonmin, in 2018 Lonmin made R1.4 billion in profit, where was Sibanye,"  he asked. 

He warned platinum producers, calling them "mineral looters" that Amcu was expecting an opening offer of R1,000. 

He also called on lobby groups to stop collecting money from donors using the Marikana massacre. 

"We do not need a Marikana campaign, we have Amcu. In Sweden I stopped two people from pocketing a lot of money, the donors asked me if I know them because they said there was a Marikana commemoration, I said yes I know they are liars." 

He explained when the documentary Miners Gunned Down was assembled, a photograph of Mgcineni Noki affectionately known as Mambush for his soccer skills, or the man in a green blanket, cost R15,000. 

"There are people making money out of your husbands, your sons and brothers,"  he told the families of the mineworkers. 

August 16 2012 marked the darkest day in the history of democatic South Africa when the police gunned downed 34 mineworkers. 

The mineworkers had waged a wildcat strike demanding to be paid a minimum monthly salary of R12,500. The strike turned violent and ten people including two policemen and two Lonmin security officers were killed in the preceding week.

Mineworkers Tembelakhe Mati, Semi Jokanisi and Pumzile Sokanyile were killed on August 13, in a skirmish with the police near a railway line. On the same day policemen - Warrant Officer Hendrik Tsietsi Monene, and Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaauku were also killed and of Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi was critically injured. 

Eric Thapelo Mabebe, Julius Langa, and Isaiah Twala were killed during the strike. 

Nine policemen are standing trial related to the massacre, former North West deputy police commissioner Major-General William Mpembe is facing murder charges for the death of Semi Jokanisi, Tembelakhe Mati, Warrant Officer Hendrik Tsietsi Monene, and Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaauku. 

He is also accused of the attempted murder of  Zolile Honxo,  Zwelitsha Mtshenwa, Muziwanele Mxinwa, Mzoxolo Zukulu, Sibongiseni Miya  on August 13 2012 in Marikana. 

He is also charged alongside retired Colonel Salmon Johannes Vermaak, 53, together with Constable Nkosana Mguye, 38,  Warrant Officer Masilo Mogale, 49, Warrant Officer Katlego Joseph Sekgweleya, 39, and Khazamola Phillip Makhubela, 49, for the murder of Pumzile Sokhanyile. 

The trail in this case was expected to resume in the North West High Court on April 20 2020. 

He was expected to appear in the same court in Mogwase on 19 August to face charges of contravention of the Commission Act, contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act and defeating the ends of justice.

In this case he is charged along with Brigadier Gideon van Zyl,  Colonel Dingaan Madoda and  Captain Oupa Pule. Van Zyl, Madoda and  Pule are accused of defeating the end of justice and contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act.

They allegedly failed to disclosed that mineworker Modisaotsile van Wyk Sagalala died in custody while transported to Lonmin premises on 16 August 2012. 

The state was charged that they concealed the circumstance of his death.

Meanwhile 17 mineworkers are due to appear in the North West High Court on 18 October facing 26 charges ranging from attempted murder, murder, malicious damage to property, robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, as well as unlawful possession of ammunition. 

The state alleges that Anele Zonke, Xolani Nzuzu, Simphiwe Booi, Khanyile Kanyise, Mzoxolo Magidiwana, Samekelo Mkhize, Amanda Nogwaza, Thobile Tyobeni, Mzukisi Soyini, Bongile Mpotye, Zamikhaya Ndude, Sithembele Sohadi, Loyiso Mtsheketshe, Zolile Honxo, Zwelitsha Mtshena, Mziwanele Mxinwa and Mzoxolo Zukulu killed Lonmin security officers Frans Matlhomola Mabelane, Hassan Fundi, two policemen, Warrant Officers Hendrick Tsietsi Monene and Oupa Sello Lepaaku, Eric Thapelo Mabebe, Julius Langa, and Isaiah Twala. 

They also face a charge of attempted murder of Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi, Lourens Christian Keyter amongst others. 

Their case was postponed pending an application the accused made at the high court in Pretoria to review former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shaun Abrahams descision to prosecute them.

ANA