BOSA Demands Justice: Declare August 16 Marikana Memorial Day 14 Years After Massacre of 34 Mineworkers
EZA News | Rustenburg | 16 August 2026
Rustenburg – Fourteen years ago, the koppie at Marikana ran red. Today, on 16 August 2026, the families still have no closure.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) has reignited the call for national recognition, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare August 16 Marikana Memorial Day to be commemorated each year in honour of the breadwinners who were killed 12 years ago.
It was on this day in 2012 that 34 mineworkers were shot and killed near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Rustenburg. At the time of the tragic incident, 78 mineworkers were also injured.
The tragedy happened when heavily armed police opened fire while trying to disperse the group of striking protesters. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
“A Blemish On Our Nation”
BOSA acting spokesperson Roger Solomons did not mince words:
“They dared to stand up and speak out against their living conditions and their low wages. These men were shot down, some at point blank range, by a government and its police force whose response to protest is brutality.”
“There is no closure and there is incomplete justice for the families who are now fatherless. This is a blemish on our nation, and we ought to right these wrongs. That is why we call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare August 16, Marikana Memorial Day – to be commemorated each year in honour of the breadwinners who were killed 12 years ago,” Solomons said.
The party says as President, Ramaphosa is empowered through proclamation to declare any day to be observed and commemorated.
The Unsung Heroes
BOSA’s statement went beyond commemoration — it was a full indictment of how South Africa treats its miners.
“On this day, we acknowledge the role of the mining community in carrying this economy on their backs. There would be no South African economy, if not for the risks taken daily by the miners of South Africa.”
“Indeed, miners risk their lives and health daily to support their families and to support the economies of South Africa, and the colonial powers before that. They are the unsung heroes of South Africa. On this day we must continue to advocate for better conditions for miners and better pay,” Solomons said.
South Africa is one of the world’s largest producers of platinum, gold, and chromium.
But BOSA warned the economy cannot rely on extraction forever.
“When there is no electricity, the mines can’t do their work, and, as a result, the economy suffers. And when there is a breakdown in our ports and in our rail systems, the economy suffers because our mines cannot deliver their products to the rest of the world. However, the economy cannot rely on mines forever.”
“Minerals run out; minerals become more expensive to extract; and some forms of mining are harmful to the environment. We must move our economy progressively from being extractive, to constructive; from being extractive to being inclusive,” Solomons said.
The call for Marikana Memorial Day has been echoed before by unions and civic groups. As South Africa hosts SADC leaders in Durban today, many say true solidarity must start at home — with the miners who built this economy.
About The Author
