Sibanye-Stillwater today hosted the sixth Annual Marikana Commemoration Lecture, delivered by Advocate Geoff Budlender SC, who served as the senior evidence leader at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry.

Since acquiring Lonmin in June 2019, Sibanye-Stillwater has prioritised meaningful engagement with stakeholders at and around its Marikana operations. The annual Marikana Commemoration Lecture, initiated in 2020, forms a central part of the Marikana Renewal Programme — providing a platform for dialogue, reflection and learning under the guiding principles of Honour, Engage, and Create.

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Budlender: Lessons still to be learned

Advocate Budlender delivered a stark assessment of the unfinished lessons of Marikana, highlighting that the deeper causes of the Marikana tragedy remain insufficiently addressed. He emphasised that the Commission could not fully explore the underlying conditions that led to the violence — particularly the deep alienation experienced by rock drill operators.

“What shocked me most was not only the killings themselves, but the level of alienation,” Budlender said. “These were people who felt so disregarded that they saw themselves effectively at war with their employer and with the police.”

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He warned that such alienation should serve as a wake-up call for all mining companies: “If you have people living on your property and working for you, and they are in that state of hostility, it should give you grave cause for reflection. Unless there are avenues for anger and frustration to be heard and addressed, violence becomes the language of last resort.”

Budlender concluded by urging the industry to learn from the past: “It is only if we address these matters that our mining industry will be able to thrive — to the lasting benefit of those who work in the mines, those who own them, and our country.”

Froneman’s final address

This year’s lecture was especially significant as it marked the final Marikana address by Neal Froneman, Sibanye-Stillwater’s outgoing CEO, who will retire next month after founding and leading the Group since 2013.

Froneman reflected on the company’s six-year engagement at Marikana since the acquisition of Lonmin in 2019: “We faced the legacy of the tragedy head-on. We honoured promises made to the widows and their families, supported their children through education, and co-created new opportunities for renewal and transformation.”

He added: “Marikana is not just a place. It is a symbol of what is possible when we lead with heart, humility, and hope.”

A new chapter under Richard Stewart

Incoming CEO Richard Stewart affirmed the Group’s continued commitment to the Marikana Renewal Programme and broader industry transformation: “The Marikana Renewal Programme has valuable lessons for the entire mining sector and the country at large. A meaningful dialogue must recognise the injustices of the past — and acknowledge the role we have all played.”

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He continued: “Our industry was built on the back of desperate migrant labour, which devastated families and communities. While we have made progress, we still bear those scars. Communities are not passive beneficiaries — they are essential partners in ensuring that the value we create outlives the life of the mine.”

“The legacy of Marikana, built on Honour, Engage and Create, must continue to guide us. We’ve made meaningful strides, but we must now look ahead to how we build on these lessons,” he said.

Continuing the journey of renewal

Additional reflections were shared by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Patron of the Marikana Renewal Programme, and Judge Ian Farlam, who chaired the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. Both emphasised the need for sustained effort, dialogue and collaboration in honouring the legacy of Marikana and driving long-term industry and societal renewal.