President Jacob Zuma has announced that he supports “swift compensation for bona fide claims” against government arising from the 2012 Marikana shootings.

“What happened at Marikana hurt the whole nation and the time has come for healing to begin‚” the president said in a statement.

“Government wishes to move forward to address the consequences of the incidents at Marikana. These incidents include not only the deaths and injuries of striking miners‚ but the deaths of other miners‚ security officials and police officers.”

He said Government is exploring initiating an alternative dispute resolution process to expedite the processing of all claims.

A judge‚ assisted by experts‚ will be asked to lead this process in order to reinforce its independence.

“Government will engage with the legal representatives of claimants‚ and encourage them to use this process. To the extent that some do not lend their co-operation‚ or it is not possible to resolve claims through mediation‚ Government will seek to do so through the court process. But it is hoped that the aim of achieving swift compensation for bona fide claims will be shared by all who genuinely seek to assist those who have suffered.”

The families of the 37 mineworkers who died when police opened fire on striking Marikana miners in August 2012‚ filed a civil claim against the minister of police in Pretoria last month.

Supported by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri) and the Legal Resources Centre‚ the families are demanding an apology from the minister of police in addition to compensation for the loss of financial support‚ grief and emotional shock‚ medical expenses resulting from psychological and psychiatric treatment‚ and loss of family life and parental care.

Zuma said Government was still considering the recommendations by the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. This was ongoing‚ as was the recently announced board of inquiry under Judge Cornelis Johannes Classen‚ assisted by two advocates‚ to investigate the position of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service‚ General Riah Phiyega.

“Both processes are continuing‚ and are unaffected by what I have to announce today.”