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The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Justice & Constitutional Development to overturn the perverse decision to withdraw support to the families of the victims of the Marikana massacre. In our statement on 27 October CASAC called on the Minister to reverse that decision of his Director-General.

Minister Radebe has today confirmed that the relevant Regulations will be amended to allow the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development (DoJCD) to fund the transport and accommodation for family members of the victims of the Marikana massacre to attend the hearings of the Inquiry in Rustenburg.

CASAC however notes that the confusion reigning within the DoJCD over the past few days has caused further distress to the families of the victims and that they are not present at the hearing today.

Speaking in Johannesburg, CASAC Chairman Sipho Pityana said:
“We call on the Department of Justice to act with urgency to make the necessary arrangements for the families to attend the hearings. The Department and all other state agencies must act with respect for the dignity and rights of the victims and their loved ones. The interests of justice demand that the families are put at the forefront of the Commission of Inquiry”.