ActionSA leader calls for overhaul of Chapter Nine institutions following Lily Mine tragedy anniversary

Action SA leader Herman Mashaba says some of the country’s Chapter Nine institutions need to be overhauled as the Lily Mine families continue to fight for justice ten years after the tragedy.

Three people died when a crown pillar underground collapsed in February 2016, bringing parts of the mine down.

The remains of Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda were never recovered.

An inquiry into their deaths later found that police, government, and mine management at the time failed to prevent what was described as an avoidable disaster.

But no one has been held accountable for the tragedy.

The families approached the South African human rights commission and filed a complaint against the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources over claims they’ve failed the victims.

Mashaba joined the families and the local mining community on Thursday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the mine collapse.

 “The establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission, the establishment of the public protector, was just a farce to deceive us South Africans that they care about us. But he has a clear indication of how uncaring this government is. It's about the oligarchs so that they can have money under the sofas, so that they can buy Lamborghinis, and they can be billionaires overnight. The poor black South Africans, in particular, they are on their own.”