Today marks exactly nine years since the Lilly Mine tragedy in Barberton, Mpumalanga.
The remains of three mineworkers Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda are still trapped in a container they were working in when the mine collapsed and engulfed it on this day in 2016.
Political parties, civil organisations and community members gathered at the mine on Wednesday to commemorate the tragic incident at a prayer service organised by Action SA.
The party has been at the forefront calling for justice and accountability for the mine owners and those responsible for the tragedy.
Speaking at the commemoration event ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba renewed the call for decisive action by the government and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to implement the Mbombela Magistrates Court ruling and hold those accountable for the loss of lives.
Efforts to reach to the container, 70 metres below the surface were halted due to safety concerns.
Mashaba used the event to respond to earlier accusations by the Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe that he is politicising the tragedy.
“I want to let those who accuse me and the party I represent of politicising this issue, that, yes.
Members of the media you can quote me on this.
It is a political matter that needs a political solution, not a mathematical solution,” said Mashaba.
He has vowed to keep the names of the three mineworkers alive as this year’s commemoration called for accountability.
Mashaba also lambasted the government of rescuing illegal miners in Stilfontein, near Klerksdorp, but failed to retrieve the remains of legal mineworkers.
“Just a few months ago we were flooded by media reporting of criminals who went underground voluntarily in Stilfontein.
The entire nation including the courts said that they must be assisted.
On the 5th of February 2016 Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda, law abiding citizens left their homes coming to work.
But nine year later our government is working with the private sector to ensure that their names are forgotten.
But as long as I’m still alive their names will never be forgotten,” remarked Mashaba.
Meanwhile former Public Protector and uMkhonto weSizwe party provincial convener in Mpumalaga, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, called for unity among political parties handling the matter.
She committed that her party would join in forces with ActionSA to ensure that the retrieval of the remains of the three miners.
“We are here to be united with any other political party that is concerned with the lives of black people because the life of a black person is not valued in this country.
To the families, I want to assure you that uMkhonto Wesizwe is not backing down, the bodies will be retrieved,” promised Mkhwebane.