APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s Solicitor-General Fhedzisani Pandelani has described the US$17.4 million the government has paid so far in damages to 34 miners killed by the police in Marikana some 11 years ago as “enough.”
But the non-profit human rights organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), which represented the families of the deceased miners was, however, still claiming more damages which the solicitor-general found to be “unreasonable.”
“For all intents and purposes, until there are new developments — and there are cogent arguments that are presented before the court of law about any new issues that arise out of the Marikana litigation — I think we have done enough,” Pandelani said.
He added: “I have already indicated that our mandate is only to deal with the management and coordination of litigation relating to the Marikana incident.”
Addressing the reporters during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, he said the claims were paid out to families of the deceased, wounded, and arrested miners.
The cases related to the Marikina massacre in which dozens of mineworkers were killed following a protracted strike at the Lonmin mine in 2012 where the miners were demanding better pay packets and welfare.
“The government has done enough to ensure that the claims of the Marikana victims and families are settled,” Pandelani said.
NM/jn/APA