Mashaba l eads commemoration of Lily Mine tragedy, 7 years later

ACTIONSA leader Herman Mashaba led a prayer and walkabout ceremony during the seventh anniversary of the Lily Mine accident in which three workers were trapped underground.

There were initial search and rescue efforts to retrieve the remains, but they were abandoned.

Yesterday marked seven years since Solomon Nyirenda, Yvonne Mnisi and Pretty Nkambule were left 70 metres underground at Lily Mine in Mpumalanga. Seven years later, their families, colleagues, and residents are still waiting for answers from the mine.

A family member of Solomon Nyirenda said: “What happened is painful. Our home is no longer the same and is now left vacant. The home is always locked now because Solomon is still trapped underground. Whenever we visit his home, tears roll out of our eyes because of this tragedy. The home was beautiful because Solomon took care of it but the home is vacant now that Solomon is no more. But I believe that they will be retrieved.”

Mashaba said ActionSA remained committed to retrieving the bodies as well as supporting the families. He said the government had failed the families and the victims of the tragedy.

“We are here to make sure the world can see how our government has treated these families. As ActionSA, we will do whatever it takes to retrieve that container and bring closure to the families. We will never desert the families in the pursuit of retrieving the bodies of their loved ones and finding the much-needed closure,” he said.

According to news broadcaster the SABC, families of the miners lamented the lack of support from the government and trade unions since the tragedy in 2016. Spokesperson for the families, Harry Mazibuko, said their cries had fallen on deaf ears.

“All they need is for their loved ones to be found, and we, as employees, all we need is our outstanding money to be paid so we can go wherever we can,” he said.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) President Joseph Mathunjwa refuted the claims.

“AMCU has done what it was supposed to do. There is no one who does not know what is happening. There is no truth that people are not (aware) or that former workers are not abreast of what is happening. This matter is in court, and you know what the current ruling is. You can’t blame AMCU because people are economical with the truth because they venture into politics at the expense of the workers’ pain.”