/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The families of Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda have informed us that a meeting took place between Nkomazi Mayor, Phindile Magagula, Fikile Mbalula and Department of Minister Resources and Electricity (DMRE) officials yesterday at Nkomazi Municipality to which they [the family] were not invited. As such the family feels insulted as they meet to discuss the retrieval of the container without them.

The victims’ families said Mbalula, and company have never attempted to meet them whilst they have audacity to discuss their issues, and the families felt belittled by the government and the ruling party. One can only deduce that the delegation had no interest in finding solutions but using them for PR exercise as we head to the 2024 general elections.

The meeting is questionable to the families because there was no one representing the victims’ families, and therefore cannot claim they were representing the interests of Yvonne, Pretty and Solomon.

Mbalula’s visit to Lily Mine during the May Day event organized by the Tripartite Alliance this year, promised that in the next three months they will make sure that there will be a solution of ensuring that this mine is opened. The three month deadline has long since passed and there is no movement from government to retrieve the bodies underground.

This promise is empty considering that the ANC government has had 7 years to retrieve the Lily Mine Three but has done nothing to assist and at times even been an obstacle to progress in this regard.

ActionSA has trust that the rule of law will prevail and finalisation of these matters will bring the families one step closer towards finding justice as the matter is with the Constitutional court.

Issued by ActionSA Mpumalanga Provincial Chairperson Thoko Mashiane