MARIKANA, North West — As the historic Marikana massacre commemoration enters its 14th year, the political landscape of the mining community is undergoing a significant transformation. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) is utilizing this solemn anniversary to thrust its newly minted Labour Party (LP) into the spotlight, strategically positioning the political wing ahead of the upcoming November local government elections.
Transitioning from a traditional trade union to a formal political entity, the Labour Party was officially registered with the Independent Electoral Commission in March 2024. The movement quickly proved its electoral viability, securing a decisive victory in a Thabazimbi Local Municipality by-election in Limpopo just nine months after its inception. This political pivot was formalized during AMCU’s 2023 special national congress, capping years of internal debate over how best to address the deep-seated socio-economic hardships endured by everyday South Africans.
Joseph Mathunjwa, who has served as AMCU’s president for over two decades and now acts as the Labour Party’s interim leader, views this expansion as a necessary evolution. Speaking at the previous year’s memorial events, Mathunjwa pointed to the systemic shortcomings of existing governance to justify the union’s political leap.
“It is because of this clear failure of the political system and that of the opposition political parties that made AMCU take a resolution to establish a Labour Party of South Africa,” Mathunjwa explained.
Framing the movement as an extension of the working-class fight and the enduring pain of the Marikana tragedy, Mathunjwa promised to translate union victories into civic action. “Just as AMCU was able to deliver the 12,500 mandate, the Labour Party will be able to deliver on its political manifesto. We are taking the shaft to the community. What we have been able to change at the workplace, we are going to change in the community.”
On the ground, the reception among Marikana residents has been largely hopeful. Community members recall the severe economic blow of job losses following the mining company’s restructuring and see the new political vehicle as a beacon for recovery. One local resident noted the gradual improvements seen since 2015, expressing confidence in the union’s political offshoot. “I think it will help a lot… I know that AMCU was good and also this Labour Party will do better,” the resident shared, anticipating tangible changes moving forward.
Despite local enthusiasm, experts caution against expecting a nationwide political upheaval. Political analyst Professor Andre Duvenhage suggests the Labour Party’s footprint will remain largely localized. While acknowledging they might “win a seat, maybe a few seats here and there,” Duvenhage doubts their capacity to challenge established parties on a broader provincial scale in the North West or on a national level. He noted that any localized success is primarily an exception driven by AMCU’s entrenched influence as a trade union rather than broad-based political appeal.
The Marikana tragedy—where 34 miners were killed by police on August 16, 2012—has long served as a powerful backdrop for political mobilization. The site was instrumental in the birth of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which Julius Malema launched in the area in July 2013. During the early anniversaries, the commemorations attracted a wide array of political leadership eager to align with the working-class struggle.
“Marikana is the home of the EFF,” Malema famously declared at an early gathering. “We do not relate with you today because it is fashionable to do so. We have always been with you… we are going to make sure that our people in this world get houses, water, and electricity.”
Similarly, Mmusi Maimane used the platform in those early years to demand state accountability, insisting that the “compensation fund must come from the South African government” to achieve true justice for the victims’ families.
However, the political fervor that once surrounded the anniversary has noticeably waned for other parties. Mathunjwa highlighted this shift, pointing out the absence of politicians who previously flocked to the area to chant slogans but have since moved on. “Today when I look at the back, I don’t see any of them. It’s only comrade Dal who is still standing,” Mathunjwa observed, underscoring a perceived abandonment by mainstream politicians.
Now, with the local government elections looming this November, Mathunjwa faces the ultimate test: converting the historic grievances and enduring loyalty of the Marikana community into tangible municipal governance.
