Marikana in the dark about Reconciliation Day

The North West government hosted its reconciliation day celebrations at Marikana yesterday.

Premier Supra Mahumapelo paid tribute to the apartheid struggle heroes who sacrificed their live for freedom. But he was silent about the workers who were killed during the labour dispute in the area in 2012.

Mahumapelo consoled parents whose children died in foreign countries during the freedom struggle.

"We are here to thank the families whose children were killed in foreign countries fighting for our freedom," he said.

Mahumapelo had a message for the people of Marikana.

"We're here to celebrate in Marikana, which is part of North West, and not here to solve labour disputes," he said.

He said his government would build houses, invest R5-million to assist small businesses, build roads and bring electricity to the Marikana settlement.

Mahumapelo said the peaceful atmosphere at the event was proof that there were no tensions between residents of the settlement and other citizens of the province.

"When we entered Marikana nobody blocked us, nobody was throwing stones at us or insulted us. That shows that there is peace here," he said.

Residents said they had not been told of the event and "had nothing to do with it".

Provincial government spokesman Sam Mokaila said the event was not about Marikana residents.

"It is for all the people of the province," he said.