AMCU President says democratic government has failed working class

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) President Joseph Mathunjwa says the democratic government has failed the working class.

Mathunjwa was addressing the 14th Marikana massacre commemorative event in the North West.

Thirty-four striking mineworkers were shot dead by the police on this day in Marikana.

He has also expressed concern that no one has been held accountable for the massacre.

This year’s Marikana massacre commemoration was marred by several challenges.

The start of the program was delayed by some hours, and the stage was also declared unsafe.

This forced AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa to deliver his speech near the infamous Koppie, where union members and supporters were gathered.

WATCH | As the country commemorates the 14th anniversary of the Marikana massacre, trade union AMCU says although wages for workers in the mining sector have improved, their living conditions still leave much to be desired.

SABC News reporter Thabiso Moss has more. pic.twitter.com/0CwZKAE9xy — SABC News (@SABCNews) August 16, 2026 Addressing the event, Mathunjwa did not mince his words, describing South Africa’s democracy as fake.

“The Freedom Charter promised that people would share the country’s wealth; workers organized, stayed away, and disrupted apartheid, but in return, R5 was their compensation they received from this fake democracy led by fake revolutionaries.

This country is rich in resources but poor in leadership.

These people are sitting in the boardroom discussing their great-grandchildren that are still to be born; they secure their future through our future and our children.” Some miners are concerned about their worsening living conditions, “We are living in harsh conditions.

We are working, but where we live is not right.

You see there are shacks everywhere.