As mining companies look at downsizing their operations and retrenching staff due to weak commodity prices‚ declining demand and a sliding rand‚ it is important that companies do not forget how fragile mining communities are. This is particularly for those in the North West Province of South Africa‚ the Bench Marks Foundation said on Wednesday.“To date‚ nothing has really come from the Marikana Commission of Inquiry’s investigations into the events that took place from Saturday 11 August to Thursday 16 August 2012 ... besides fingers that have been pointed and various recommendations made‚” said the foundation’s executive director John Capel.“No one‚ beside those who lost their lives and their widows and orphans‚ have paid and are paying the price from that fateful day‚” said Capel. “Companies must learn that they cannot treat people as mere commodities and they must realise that South Africa is still very fragile.“It’s at times like this that companies show their true colours. They talk about being socially responsible but when the push comes to the shove‚ how they handle the situation reveals everything.”There had been no noticeable upgrades to the material conditions surrounding the mines‚ “which was one of the catalysts for the strike that year‚ and I doubt that this will happen now that these companies are looking at closure and retrenchments and are crying that profits are not as high as it used to be”.Capel said that people in these communities were still battling to put their lives together.“In addition‚ a compensation fund has not been established‚ which should have been done a long time ago.“It’s sad that the only way that these people feel they can get justice or compensation is through civil claims against the police.“For too long the companies have been raking in profits and the miners and communities have been swept to the side‚ living on the crumbs. And now‚ they have impending unemployment added to the mix.“We cannot cope with any further job losses. One job lost means 12 dependents suffer and indirectly many other jobs relying on mine workers’ wages are lost too.”The Bench Marks Foundation is a non-profit‚ faith-based organisation owned by the churches in South Africa.It is mandated to monitor the practices of multi-national corporations to ensure they respect human rights; protect the environment; ensure that profit-making is not done at the expense of other interest groups; and ensure that those most negatively affected upon are heard‚ protected and accommodated within the business plans of the corporations...