4 years after Tatane's death, nothing has changed in Fiksburg

Four years after Andries Tatane died during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg, not much has changed in the Free State town.

Tatane, Ficksburg and the township of Meqheleng - where he lived - have become a symbol of much that remains unfulfilled in post-apartheid South Africa.

The acquittal of the policemen charged with Tatane's murder has become a negative symbol, one that speaks of justice denied for the poor.

Last week, when retired Judge Ian Farlam's report on the 2012 deaths in Marikana was released, the symbolism of Tatane was again invoked.

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Quoting North West deputy police chief William Mpembe, the report reads: "General Mpembe informed them that he did not want a Tatane situation."

On a visit this week to Meqheleng, where Tatane lived with his wife, Rose, and their son, Molefe, now eight, it is clear the promises made in 2011 to the Tatanes have been forgotten .

Streams of raw sewage run through the streets , cars struggle to navigate untarred, rutted roads, and a lack of water and sanitation are among many problems that remain.

Isak Vries, DA councillor for Meqheleng, agrees. "Nothing has changed in the area since 2011."

He said the government had built houses, but some had been left without toilets.

"Some areas still do not have basic services like water. And there are no youth development programmes."

For Rose, the symbolism of Marikana and her husband's death is inescapable.

"I watched what happened with the miners in Marikana. It was exactly like my husband's case," she said.

"We were also told the police were doing their jobs. I sometimes ask myself what exactly is their job - to protect or kill? Andries had no weapon when they beat him. Justice in South Africa is not for the poor."

block_quotes_start We thought government would give us something to clear the blood. Instead we got this ghost house block_quotes_end

According to Tatane's uncle Peter Tatane, 76, representatives of the ANC provincial government arrived shortly after his nephew's funeral to build them a three-bedroom house.

But it was never completed and they never returned to explain why the windows, doors, ceiling and plastering were left unfinished.

"In fact, we do not want to know. I wish they didn't start this project in the first place," said Peter.

In March 2013, the Ficksburg Regional Court acquitted the seven police officers accused of Tatane's death.

Peter said he would never recover from the pain of knowing no one would be held to account for Tatane's death. They do not have any hope of getting compensation either.

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"The whole world saw the group of policemen beating him shortly before he collapsed and died. It was shown on TV. We thought this was going to be a simple case and government would give us something to clear the blood. Instead we got this ghost house," Peter said.

Not only is the family disappointed, but several residents in the area believe Tatane died for nothing - without even a statue or reminder of what happened on April 13 2011 on Voortrekker Street, Ficksburg.

While people pass the parking lot where her husband died, Rose cannot bring herself to go to the spot - although she works as a cleaner at the nearby municipal offices. "It's a sign of respect more than anything. I'd rather go the other way than cross that area."

Phillip Selokoe, a former deputy principal at Tlotlisong Secondary School where Tatane gave extra lessons in physics and maths, said his vision was to see youngsters excel and get bursaries to study further.

They met at the school where Tatane had been a pupil and became friends after Tatane approached him about starting the "I Can Programme" aimed at helping young people .

Selokoe was a member of the Meqheleng Concerned Citizens group but said the group fell apart soon after Tatane's death, leaving the community divided.

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"Some feel there's nothing we can do, let's move on. There are those who, through the Meqheleng Concerned Citizens group, got tenders to build houses and organise musical events. Others now work for the municipality," Selokoe said.

Molefi Nonyane, another of Tatane's friends and also a former member of the group, left to rejoin the ANC after quarrels within the community. Nonyane was seen in footage cradling Tatane in his arms. He has since been accused of getting contracts from the municipality after his friend's death. He now runs the Highlands Hotel - a stone's throw from where Tatane died.

He is surprised no monument had been built as a reminder of what happened that day.

"No progress has been made, though promises were made and budgets were set aside for Ficksburg back then," Nonyane said.

Tatane's sister Pholeng said they had buried the past - not because they did not want justice for her brother, but because they lived with perpetual disappointment.

"We have put everything behind us. We've been disappointed so many times - by the law, by politicians, even those who called themselves his friends.

"My brother was fighting genuinely for the people, but others were opportunists. There is no justice for the poor in South Africa. It was clear from the beginning that no one would be held accountable."