Nearly nine years ago, on 5 February 2016, a container with three mine workers – Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda – collapsed through an implosion at the Lily Mine, in Mpumalanga, taking all three innocent lives with it. To this day, their remains have not been recovered, and their families continue to endure the anguish of being unable to provide them with a dignified burial so that they can reach closure.
At the request of the families, ActionSA is honoured to organise this year’s commemoration to reflect on the tragedy, honour the memory of the deceased, and amplify the call for justice and accountability. The event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for closure and the urgent need to act against those responsible for a preventable disaster.
The commemoration will:
1. Pay tribute to the lives lost, underscoring the preventable nature of the tragedy.
2. Serve as a platform to ensure South Africans never forget the fight for justice.
3. Renew the call for decisive action by the government and the NPA to implement the Mbombela Magistrate Court’s ruling and hold those accountable for this devastating loss.
In addition to honouring the deceased, the event will spotlight the resilience and determination of the families who have relentlessly pursued justice despite numerous barriers.
Other than former president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa ZUMA, now leader of the MK Party, who has been amongst the first to confirm his intention to attend the commemoration, the Presidency, other leaders from political organisations, civil society, diplomatic missions, traditional and religious institutions, advocacy groups, academia, the National Prosecutions Authority, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Foundation, the F.W. De Klerk Foundation, and others, including the broader community, have been invited to attend.
The planned commemoration provides a unique opportunity to remind South Africans who have forgotten, or moved on, to stand in solidarity with the families and reaffirm their
commitment to justice and accountability by calling for the retrieval of the container with the remains of the Lily Mine workers.
ActionSA believes that this commemoration is not only about remembering those we lost but also about ensuring their loss compels us to never give up our quest to build a society where justice and accountability are non-negotiable.
Lily Mine: A Non-negotiable Stance for Justice
Nearly nine years ago, on 5 February 2016, a container with three mine workers – Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda – collapsed through an implosion at the Lily Mine, in Mpumalanga, taking all three innocent lives with it. To this day, their remains have not been recovered, and their families continue to endure the anguish of being unable to provide them with a dignified burial so that they can reach closure.
At the request of the families, ActionSA is honoured to organise this year’s commemoration to reflect on the tragedy, honour the memory of the deceased, and amplify the call for justice and accountability. The event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for closure and the urgent need to act against those responsible for a preventable disaster.
The commemoration will:
1. Pay tribute to the lives lost, underscoring the preventable nature of the tragedy.
2. Serve as a platform to ensure South Africans never forget the fight for justice.
3. Renew the call for decisive action by the government and the NPA to implement the Mbombela Magistrate Court’s ruling and hold those accountable for this devastating loss.
In addition to honouring the deceased, the event will spotlight the resilience and determination of the families who have relentlessly pursued justice despite numerous barriers.
Other than former president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa ZUMA, now leader of the MK Party, who has been amongst the first to confirm his intention to attend the commemoration, the Presidency, other leaders from political organisations, civil society, diplomatic missions, traditional and religious institutions, advocacy groups, academia, the National Prosecutions Authority, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Foundation, the F.W. De Klerk Foundation, and others, including the broader community, have been invited to attend.
The planned commemoration provides a unique opportunity to remind South Africans who have forgotten, or moved on, to stand in solidarity with the families and reaffirm their
commitment to justice and accountability by calling for the retrieval of the container with the remains of the Lily Mine workers.
ActionSA believes that this commemoration is not only about remembering those we lost but also about ensuring their loss compels us to never give up our quest to build a society where justice and accountability are non-negotiable.