Victory for Marikana workers - Bench Marks Foundation

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Seoka, who is the chairperson of the Bench Marks Foundation, said this victory for the workers was an essential step in the battle for justice and for those who would not have had the opportunity to defend themselves or put their story forward due to a lack of funding.

Seoka also revealed that, had the latest appeal to the courts failed, they were prepared, as the next step, to mobilise the international community to "fight this matter, as many of us did during the apartheid era."

The news of the ruling was announced to acclamation by those attending the Bench Marks Foundation's conference on the future of mining in South Africa and Africa, in the presence of deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe who was the keynote speaker.

Members of civil society, mining houses, government and business from South Africa, Africa, Europe and South East Asia and communities directly affected by mining attended the conference which ended last week.

Result of a lot of hard work

"We are very excited about this ruling," says Bishop Seoka. "This is a great achievement and the result of a lot of hard work and unnecessary costs.

"Costs which those we represent would never have been able to cover and will now, thankfully, be covered by the state."

According to the ruling, the Legal Aid Board must pay for all expenses incurred to date by Advocate Dali Mpofu and his team and then to cover all costs related to the Farlam Commission from now onwards.

"We tried all the legal routes to get this matter resolved. We went to the High Court. When that didn't work, we went to the Constitutional Court. When that didn't work, we went back to the High Court.

"We even obtained a permit, and with a petition in hand, marched to the Union Buildings.

"I am very sure that this positive response would not have happened had we not put pressure on the state."

For more info, go to www.bench-marks.org.za.