The Marikana massacre, a dark chapter in South Africa's history, continues to cast a long shadow, with the recent killing of Aphelele Jokanisi, the younger brother of one of the victims, by police reigniting the pain and anger of the families affected.
Jokanisi, 30, was travelling with a friend, Yandisa Jajula, on June 30 between Flagstaff and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape when they were allegedly shot multiple times by police, with Jokanisi's 8-year-old nephew, Ambusise, present. This incident has left the Jokanisi family reeling, as they grapple with the loss of another loved one, just 12 years after the Marikana massacre claimed the life of Aphelele's elder brother, Semi, The Sunday Tribune has reported.
Semi Jokanisi was one of the 10 mineworkers killed by police officers and security guards in the days leading up to the Marikana massacre on August 16, 2012. The killing of Semi, along with his fellow Lonmin mineworkers Thembalakhe Mati and Pumzile Sokanyile, and the subsequent deaths of Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Lepaauku on August 13, 2012, have been the subject of a lengthy legal battle.
Former North West police deputy provincial commissioner Majorgeneral William Mpembe, Colonel Salomon Vermaak, Warrant Officers Katlego Sekgweleya, Masilo Mogale, Khazamola Makhubela and Constable Nkosana Mguye are facing charges for these killings, but have applied to be discharged in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). Judgment in their application is expected next month.
The Farlam Commission, which investigated the Marikana massacre, heard that the police killings of Jokanisi, Mati and Sokanyile may have fueled a sense of revenge among the striking miners, leading to the deaths of Monene and Lepaauku. This tragic chain of events highlights the complex and volatile situation that unfolded at Marikana, where tensions between the miners, police, and security forces escalated to a deadly climax.
The Jokanisi family has endured a series of tragedies since the Marikana massacre. Their mother, Nomandiya Joyce Jokanisi, passed away in 2021 while still seeking justice for her son Semi. In 2016, Semi's son, Ayabonga, tragically took his own life after facing bullying at school related to his father's brutal death. The family had requested that Lonmin transfer Ayabonga to another school, but their request was reportedly denied.
The recent killing of Aphelele Jokanisi has added another layer of grief and trauma to the family's already heavy burden. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is currently investigating the incident, with spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirming that the case is under investigation.
"Two people died in that same incident and the 8-year-old mysteriously survived without being hurt. We confirm that there is no arrest at this stage, and we are still following up on the information," Shuping said.
While the investigation into Aphelele's death is underway, the legal battle surrounding the Marikana massacre continues. The mineworkers, who were arrested and injured during the events, are seeking compensation for their losses, including past and future loss of earnings, medical expenses, and general damages.
Attorney Andries Nkome, representing 53 of the mineworkers, stated that the State has conceded that it was wrong in unlawfully arresting the miners, causing injuries, and prosecuting them. However, negotiations regarding compensation offers are ongoing, with the State challenging the amounts claimed by the mineworkers.
"The State has been looking for reasons why the amounts we are claiming for general damages are not feasible to be paid. Essentially, the State is saying we are looking for great amounts. We are saying there hasn’t been anything like Marikana that has happened in South Africa: the last time something similar happened was in Sharpeville in 1960," Nkome said.
In a separate matter, 329 mineworkers injured and arrested by the police after the massacre are seeking damages of nearly R1 billion from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Sibanye Stillwater (formerly Lonmin, of which Ramaphosa was a director and shareholder at the time).
