ActionSA: Ongoing impasse regarding Lily mine tragedy a violation of the rights of deceased miners’ families
ActionSA has accused those involved in the ongoing impasse surrounding the Lily Mine tragedy in Mpumalanga of violating the fundamental rights of the deceased miners and their families. The political party, led by Herman Mashaba, has taken legal action to push for recovery operations to retrieve the remains of the three miners who have been trapped underground for nine years.
Legal Action Taken to Push for Recovery
Earlier this week, ActionSA announced it had launched legal proceedings in the Gauteng High Court. The legal action aims to gain access to the Lily Mine site and facilitate recovery operations for the remains of Pretty Nkambule, Solomon Nyirenda, and Yvonne Mnisi. The three miners were trapped underground when the mine collapsed in 2016.
The collapse left a container, used as a lamp room where the miners had taken shelter, buried under tons of debris. Despite repeated calls from the families for the retrieval of their remains, no successful recovery efforts have been undertaken.
Claims of Obstruction by Mine Authorities
ActionSA has accused business rescue practitioner Robert Devereux and the mining company Makonjwaan Imperial Mining of hindering recovery operations. According to the party, the company and its representatives have either failed to respond or outright refused to grant access to the site for recovery efforts.
Herman Mashaba expressed frustration over the ongoing delays and the lack of cooperation from those responsible for overseeing the site. “The human rights of the bereaved Lily Mine families have been disregarded for far too long,” he said.
Mashaba also suggested that the mining authorities had failed in their duty to provide transparent communication and reasonable access to the site, contributing to the families’ ongoing grief and trauma.
Nine Years of Waiting for Closure
It has now been nine years since the tragic incident took place at the Lily Mine. Despite continuous appeals from the families of Nkambule, Nyirenda, and Mnisi, there has been no recovery of their remains. The families have been vocal about their demands, calling on government and mining authorities to take responsibility and launch recovery efforts.
Many family members and supporters have staged protests over the years, camped outside the mine, and petitioned authorities in their quest for justice and closure. However, their efforts have largely been met with delays, legal complications, and limited action.
Violation of Human Rights
Mashaba framed the situation as a fundamental violation of human rights. He drew comparisons between the Lily Mine tragedy and other efforts by the South African government to retrieve the remains of South Africans who died in foreign lands.
“The human rights of the bereaved Lily Mine families are not less important than those of the families on whose behalf the South African government has and continues to spend hundreds of millions of rands retrieving the remains of the loved ones who died on foreign lands during the anti-apartheid struggle or the 14 South African soldiers who were killed recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” said Mashaba.
By highlighting these comparisons, Mashaba emphasized that the government should demonstrate the same level of commitment and urgency in retrieving the remains of the Lily Mine victims.
Ongoing Battle for Accountability
The Lily Mine case has long been a point of contention, raising broader concerns about corporate accountability in the mining sector and the role of government oversight. Families of the victims have accused both the mining company and government authorities of failing to prioritize their loved ones’ recovery.
ActionSA’s legal action may offer a glimmer of hope for the families, but significant challenges remain. The legal process is often slow, and gaining access to a dangerous site like the Lily Mine requires extensive planning and cooperation.
Conclusion
ActionSA’s decision to escalate the Lily Mine issue through legal action underscores the long-standing frustration and grief endured by the victims’ families. As the legal battle unfolds, the families and supporters hope that justice will finally be served and that recovery operations will begin. Until then, the struggle for closure continues, fueled by calls for accountability and respect for human rights.
