Johannesburg - ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba led a prayer and walkabout ceremony during the seventh anniversary of the Lily Mine accident where three mine workers were trapped underground.
There were initial search and rescue efforts to retrieve the remains, but these were later abandoned.
Yesterday marked seven years since three mine workers—Solomon Nyirenda, Yvonne Mnisi, and Pretty Nkambule — were left 70 metres underground at Lily Mine in Mpumalanga. Seven years later, their families, colleagues, and community members are still awaiting answers from the mine.
One of the victims' family members believes the victims will be brought to the mine's surface one day.
"What happened is painful. Our home is no longer the same and is now left vacant. The home is always locked now because Solomon is still trapped underground. Whenever we visit his home, tears roll out of our eyes because of this tragedy. The home was beautiful because Solomon took care of it but now the home is vacant now that Solomon is no more. But I believe that they will be retrieved," said the family member of Solomon Nyirenda.
Mashaba said ActionSA remains committed to retrieving the three mine workers as well as supporting the affected family members, adding that the government failed the families and the victims of the tragedy.
"We are here to make sure the world can see how our government has treated these families. As ActionSA, we will do whatever it takes to retrieve that container and bring closure to the families. We will never desert the families in the pursuit of retrieving the bodies of their loved ones and finding the much-needed closure," he said.
According to news broadcaster SABC, families of the three victims lamented the lack of support from both the government and trade unions since the tragedy in 2016. According to Harry Mazibuko, spokesperson of the bereaved families, their cries have fallen on deaf ears.
"All they need is for their loved ones to be found, and we as employees, all we need is our outstanding money to be paid, so that we can go wherever we can. So that’s the situation."
However, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) President Joseph Mathunjwa refuted these claims, saying AMCU has done its part.
"AMCU has done what it was supposed to do. There is no one who does not know what is happening. There is no truth that people are not (aware) or the former workers are not abreast of what is happening. This matter is in court, and you know what the current ruling is. You can’t blame AMCU because people are economic with the truth because they venture into politics at the expense of the workers' pain."
The Star