On Thursday, 28 April 2016, 11.00 am a Press Conference will take place on the Head Office of ATTAC in Frankfurt in Germany which will be addressed by retired Bishop Joe Seoka, Chairperson of the Benchmarks Foundation; Ms Agnes Thelejabe and Ms Ntombizolile Mosebetsane, widows of Marikana mine workers killed in police action against the striking mineworkers, and Khulumani Support Group project officers, Ms Nomarussia Bonase and Ms Judy Seidman.
The press conference will call on BASF, the major purchaser of the platinum produced at LONMIN’s Marikana mine, to contribute to providing reparations to the famiies who lost their breadwinners in the Massacre.
BASF and the Marikana Massacre
Along the value chain: Platinum from South Africa and the German Industry
The Khulumani Support Group, Bench Marks Foundation, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Bread for the World, KASA, and the Ethical Shareholders Germany invite to a
PRESS CONFERENCE
Thursday, 28 April 2016, 11.00 am
Head Office of Attac Germany
Münchner Straße 48, 60329 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Bishop Jo Seoka: representative of the Marikana mine workers & Bench Marks Foundation
Ntombizolile Mosebetsane & Agnes Makopano Thelejane: representative of relatives of the killed mine workers
Nomarussia Bonase & Judy Seidman: Khulumani Support Group
The South African delegation is touring Austria, Switzerland and Germany, to exhibit artwork and raise awareness of the on-going damage caused by the events at Marikana. The delegation will conclude with a presentation at the AGM of BASF, Friday, 29 April 2016 in Mannheim, Germany. More information: www.basflonmin.com.
It ends in the production of catalysts in Germany, US-American or Japanese factories. It begins in South African mines. In the “platinum belt”, north of Johannesburg, you can find around 80 per cent of the world’s platinum deposits, belonging to the groups in Platinum Group Metals (PGM). Platinum is now the most valuable precious metal in the world, and Germany is – after the USA – its second largest importer.
The miners who extract these minerals live in very poor conditions, often in informal settlements near the mine, without running water or electricity. In 2012, around 3,000 miners struck for higher wages and better living conditions. 34 miners were shot dead by the South African police. The Government Commission of Inquiry reported that the mine owner, the British company Lonmin, was responsible for the massacre, along with the South African government.
One of the principal buyers of Lonmin’s platinum is BASF, the world’s largest chemical company and manufacturer of catalytic converters. The company has on various occasions declared that it takes responsibility in verifying justice throughout its supply chain. BASF has not yet issued a comprehensive statement on how it should respond to the massacre and the poor living conditions of the people on Marikana, which caused the strike (see more information about BASFs reaction to the address of Bishop Jo Seoka in April 2015, under www.basflonmin.com).
The Widows of Marikana are demanding that those responsible provide reparation for the loss of their loved ones in this massacre. We believe that BASF, as a key partner in the platinum supply chain, should contribute to this repair.
More Information: https://basflonmin.com
Queries
Dr. Marjorie Jobson, Khulumani Support Group: +27 (0) 82 268 0223 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John Capel, bench Marks Foundation: +27 11 832-1743/2 and +27 (0) 82 870 8861
Maren Grimm: +49 (0) 177 655 10 53, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jakob Krameritsch: +43 (0) 699 1967 51 31, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Markus Dufner: +49 (0) 221 599 56 47, 0173 – 713 52 37, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
