Mr Speaker, hon members, we have come together united in sorrow by the terrible events of the past weeks. We are united in grieving for those who lost their lives. These are dark and harrowing times for the families and friends of those who are left behind. The DA wishes to associate itself with the condolences of the government and all the other parties in this House.
Sithi sengathi abalele bangalala ngokuthula. [We are saying, may the souls of the departed rest in peace.]
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this tragedy. More simply put, we have all been affected and moved. Amidst the grief, this great nation will draw upon the resilience and determination which have guided us through many tragedies and difficult times before.
While this is not the hour for recriminations, it is the time for difficult and painful questions. The DA welcomes the President's promise to establish an independent judicial commission of inquiry into the Marikana tragedy. This tragedy could have and should have been prevented. Its escalation speaks of a lack of top-level leadership and of ministerial accountability. The judicial commission must therefore be established immediately, with precise terms of reference. It must not at any point be downgraded to an internal inquiry.
The commission must specifically establish who authorised the use of live ammunition on the striking workers, within the context of how the South African Police Service manages violent strikes. Whoever authorised the use of live ammunition must be held accountable. It must also be revealed on what intelligence, if any, the planning was conducted and if the National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, exercised appropriate judgment and leadership. At what point did she intervene?
The commission must also carefully examine the conduct and the role of the Minister of Police, the hon Nathi Mthethwa. At what point did he intervene? In most democracies, a crisis of this magnitude would have immediately precipitated the resignation of the Minister, and in many cases, the fall of the government. The DA is concerned that no one in this government seems to be assuming political responsibility for this massacre.
We need accountability now. The Minister of Police, the secretaries-general of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, Amcu, and the National Union of Mineworkers, NUM, and the chief executive officer of Lonmin should carefully consider their positions, and in our view, offer their resignations. Their position is untenable.
The commission must uncover every factor and decision which led to this incident. Its work must be data-driven and not subject to political interference, sentiment or a misguided desire to make the findings appear more acceptable. The role of every actor - from the mineworker to the trade union leader, from the police officer to the board member of Lonmin and from the responsible government Minister to the President himself - must face fair and impartial scrutiny.
Although the searing images of this tragedy will remind us of Sharpeville and Boipatong, let us not forget that South Africa today is a different country. We are a constitutional democracy, guided not by terror but by the majesty of the rule of law. The rule of law must now be allowed to take its course unhindered.
This massacre did not take place in a vacuum. It was a long time in the making, and its many causes are well known. As a Parliament, we must face up to our own failure to hold the government and the safety and security agencies to account. We must ensure that a tragedy of this magnitude never happens again. I thank you. [Applause.]