The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to heal the painful history of the country especially when it comes to the economic challenges and the country’s land distribution policy which has left many black South Africans in poverty.
He told the country’s national assembly that he is willing to do what it takes to heal the ”painful” wounds that many of them continue to carry in their hearts.
“Dispossession of black people of their land contributed to the poverty” he said indicating that ”We will not allow smash and grab interventions when it comes to addressing the land question.”
Ramaphosa also declared that when it comes to addressing the land issue, “We must not see the redistribution of land as a threat. We should see it as an opportunity to address the injustices of the past.”
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says he wants to help with “healing and atonement” following the Marikana massacre.
34 miners were shot dead by South African police on August 16, 2012. 78 others sustained serious injuries during the incident in which the police fired into a crowd of striking mine workers.
The mine workers were demanding wage increase. Surviving victims of the massacre and families of those who died have expressed anger at the failure of the ANC government to deliver justice by bringing those behind the massacre to book.
Mr Ramaphosa, who was a non-executive director of the Lonmin platinum mine when the incident occurred was cleared by a judicial commission of inquiry in 2015 of any wrong doing.
He said on Tuesday that “The Marikana tragedy stands out as the darkest moment in the life of our young democracy.”
”I am determined to play whatever role I can play in the process of healing and atonement. In this, I am guided by the needs and wishes of the families of the 44 workers who lost their lives,” Ramaphosa added.
Ramaphosa was sworn in as President following the resignation of Jacob Zuma last week.
Source: Africafeeds.com
