First Thing is First |Today is nine years since the 34 mine workers of Marikana who embarked on a three-week strike were killed by the South African Police Service.  On 9 August 2012, the mineworkers embarked on a strike over their working conditions and to demand a living wage. On 16 August 2012, the South African Police Service (SAPS) attempted to end the strike by responding with lethal force. Over the course of a few days, the cumulative death toll reached 44 people including mineworkers, Lonmin security personnel and two SAPS officers.

• Since 2012, the families and surviving mineworkers have continued to bear the trauma and loss which has since been compounded by the lack of justice and accountability for the events at Marikana. 

Guest: Dineo Phalane , Candidate Attorney at The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI)

• The institute has been representing some of the miners’ families in court.
• SERI wants August 16 to be a holiday as sign of respect to victims and families