A decolonial exploration of the experiences of trauma, and pathways to healing among mineworkers and the community of Marikana

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22890140
AutoresMalose Langa (0000-0002-3196-3147, University of the Witwatersrand, autor de correspondencia), Yandisa Sikweyiya (0000-0001-7153-5828, South African Medical Research Council), Modiegi Merafe (Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation), Noma Pakade (Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation), Sebenzile Nkosi (0000-0001-9901-1508, South African Medical Research Council)
Año2026
Páginas1-17
Fecha de publicación2026-06-26
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Contemporary African Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0258-9001 • E-ISSN: 1469-9397
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02589001.2026.2677534
OpenAlexW7166053359
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas35

In this article, we explore the lived experiences of trauma among male mineworkers and the possibilities for healing and transformation after the Marikana massacre. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with mineworkers who participated in or witnessed the 2012 Marikana strike. Participants described enduring trauma after police killed 34 and injured many mineworkers, with traumatic memories, recurring nightmares, and ongoing fear continuing to affect their lives. They emphasised the need for healing through culturally meaningful and collective practices, including traditional healing rituals, communication with the spirits of the deceased, and the acknowledgement of the dead as ancestors. Participants also highlighted the importance of commemorating the massacre and preserving the koppie as a memorial site to honour those who died. In addition, they viewed an apology and acknowledgement of wrongdoing from the ANC-led government as central to healing and closure. The article argues that trauma in Marikana must be understood through a decolonial trauma lens that recognises historical violence, structural inequality, spirituality, communal memory, and culturally appropriate forms of healing.

Acknowledgement · Affect (linguistics) · Government (linguistics) · Historical trauma · Honour · Wrongdoing · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · South African History and Culture