'If they were white, they would've been rescued': Mashaba slams government inaction over Lily Mine tragedy

Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, has issued a scathing condemnation of the South African government’s handling of the Lily Mine tragedy, asserting that racial bias plays a role in the prolonged delay in retrieving the remains of three miners trapped 90 metres underground since 2016. 

Mashaba’s comments come after nearly nine years of government inaction, which he describes as a gross neglect of justice and human dignity.

A Call for Urgency and Justice

During a segment on Power FM last night, Mashaba made an emotional appeal to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to take urgent action. 

“It’s heartbreaking to think of the families who have been waiting for their loved ones’ remains for almost nine years,” he said. 

“If those miners were of the white race, the container holding their bodies would have been removed long ago. The government would have mobilised every resource to rescue them, and the media would have been shouting from rooftops.”

Mashaba’s words underscore a perception of racial disparity in the government’s response, a sentiment that has gained momentum among affected families and the public. 

“It’s a tragedy that, despite the government’s claims of progress and development, they have failed to act on this matter,” he added. “We have spent over R4 million on legal costs trying to seek justice for these families, yet no meaningful action has been taken as the bodies are still trapped underground.”

A Political Ultimatum

In a firm ultimatum to Minister Mantashe, ActionSA has declared that if the bodies are not retrieved within 60 days, the party will take matters into its own hands. 

“We are giving the government a clear deadline,” Mashaba stated. 

“If they do not act, we will mobilise our resources and collaborate with qualified rescue specialists to ensure these families finally get closure.”

The party’s frustration is compounded by recent government statements promising imminent retrieval—promises that have yet to materialise. 

ActionSA’s National Chairman, Athol Trollip, also expressed disappointment, recalling a recent meeting at which Mantashe assured them that the retrieval was “imminent.” 

“Nine years have passed,” Trollip questioned. “What does ‘imminent’ mean after so long?”

Legal and Political Action

ActionSA said that it has obtained permission from the mine’s business rescue practitioners to enter the site and collaborate with rescue experts. 

Mashaba revealed that legal advice has been sought to explore all possible options, including direct intervention to recover the miners’ remains.

The tragedy has also led to calls for accountability. Although the Mbombela Magistrate’s Court ruled in October 2023 that those responsible should face criminal charges, no arrests or prosecutions have occurred.

This lack of accountability has intensified grief among families and fuelled public outrage.

A Broader Call for Justice

Mashaba’s comments highlight a broader concern about racial and socio-economic inequalities in South Africa’s justice system and government response to tragedies involving marginalised communities. 

“We cannot allow such neglect to continue,” he said. 

“These families deserve justice, dignity, and closure. And if the government refuses to act, we will do everything we can to ensure they receive it.”

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

IOL Politics