The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will visit the Marikana community, North West province, to assess the needs of the families affected by the strike with the view to continue providing humanitarian aid.
Marikana has seen a disruption of most government services due to the six-month long strike by platinum mine workers. The strike has left many families, particularly women and children, in extreme poverty.
During the June 17 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma announced the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities, led by the Presidency.
The role of the IMC is to improve the living conditions of mining communities and Minister Dlamini will be in Marikana to advance the work of the committee.
The Department of Social Development, with the assistance of its agencies, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA), has been working in Marikana in the past months providing humanitarian and social assistance.
To date, SASSA has spent more than six million rand in Marikana providing social relief of distress to the affected families.
Members of the media are invited to the event, scheduled as follows:
Date: 29 June 2014
Time: 10h00
Venue: Retief Primary School, Mmaditlhokwa Village North West province
For media RSVPs, please contact:
Mr Jaconia Kobue
Cell: 073 026 1111
E-mail: JaconiaO@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
