Viewpoint: Marikana highlights Zuma’s failure to lead

Mr Malema did stumble onto the truth about Marikana, particularly when it comes to the pact between trade unions, business, and ANC elites.

The fact that former trade unionist Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also a member of the top leadership body, the National Executive Committee, sits on the Lonmin board indicates that the problem is deeper than it seems.

What this says is that, unions such as the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which is affiliated to the ANC-allied Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), is so entangled in politics that it is losing its credibility as a representative of workers.

NUM negotiated the pay settlement that has been brought into dispute in Marikana by the rival Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

While more regarding this complex relationship is yet to come into the open through the commission of enquiry appointed by Mr Zuma, Amcu’s rise to prominence in Marikana and other platinum mines has been fed by growing uneasiness among with workers with NUM’s status as a credible representative of their interests in the sector.

The union environment in the mining sector is shifting. The mining bosses, who have an interest in ensuring a “friendly” NUM leadership, have also closely observed the union’s influence in the sector.

The complex socio-political environment in which the mining sector operates in South Africa needs to be looked at deeply, to ensure that another Marikana does not happen.

To dismiss Marikana as an exception would be too costly for South Africa.