Ramaphosa hits back at renewed Marikana criticism
President Cyril Ramaphosa has slammed critics who claim he's responsible for the deaths of 44 miners in the Marikana massacre.
At the same time, the president has welcomed the judgment handed down in the civil suit brought against him by Lonmin workers.
The Johannesburg High Court ruling opens the way for the victims' families - who're seeking millions in compensation - to hold Ramaphosa personally liable.
The president's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the judgment included exceptions.
The court agreed that there was no factual basis for allegations of collusion between Ramaphosa, the government, and senior police officers.
"The high court had agreed with the president's argument and held that the plaintiffs have not established the president bore any legal duty in relation to the Marikana tragedy.
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"Furthermore, the court made no finding that the president was in fact the cause of harmful conduct. The proceedings were not a trial and no evidence was led. The court was merely engaged in a legal debate, regarding whether the plaintiff's allegations complied with the law."
August marks 10 years since the Marikana killings.
Police shot dead striking workers at the platinum mine, near Rustenburg, where Ramaphosa was a non-executive director at the time.
The EFF says it believes Ramaphosa has a case to answer.
“Disturbingly, is the ongoing politicisation of this tragedy leading to the unfair targeting and isolated allocation of responsibility to the president," Magwenya counters.
“Others have sought to create a false impression that President Ramaphosa bears liability for the killings."
