New book on Marikana

MARIKANA: A View from the Mountain and a Case to Answer

by Peter Alexander, Luke Sinwell, Thapelo Lekgowa, Botsang Mmope and Bongani Xezwi

 

The Marikana Massacre in August 2012 involved the largest number of killings of South African civilians by the security forces since the end of apartheid.  Those killed were mineworkers who were on strike for a living wage and were simply demanding the right to speak with their employer when the police attacked.

The core of Marikana is a series of interviews conducted with workers who were present at the massacre. In addition, the book includes a narrative of the strike and the massacre, written from the perspective of the strikers; an analysis of context and political significance; and a list of all those who died at Marikana. The book also includes 5 maps and 14 photos.

"The book is an attempt to provide a bottom‐up account of the Marikana story, to correct an imbalance in many official and media accounts that privilege the viewpoints of governments and business, at the expense of workers.”
Prof Jane Duncan

, Highway African Chair of Media and Information Society, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

“The Marikana massacre marked a watershed in the history of South Africa since the end of apartheid. In what may prove a classic work of engaged scholarship, this book helps the strikers themselves speak and be heard.”

Alex Callinicos, Professor of European Studies, King's College London

 

“No amount of capitalist brutality will deter our cause for a living wage. Workers should read this book about the struggle at Marikana.”

Joseph Mathunjwa

, President, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union

 

Available from Bookmarks - see here