"I will follow the story of Marikana till the day I retire." Gia Nicolaides


Gia Nicolaides
Award winning journalist Gia Nicolaides addressed the Tshwane University of Technology journalism students on Friday. Speaking about her recently published book "Reporting from the front line" Untold stories from Marikana. In her address to the students, she goes back and relives her journey during the Marikana massacre that took place in August 2012. Nicolaides says that when she took on the story, she thought to herself it just another protest. Little did she know that it would make international headlines with 34 people gunned down. Nicolaides emphasizes that the mine workers were standing up for themselves, they didn't want to be affiliated with any Union (AMCU/NUMSA).

"The mine workers didn't want to be interviewed by journalist especially female journalist, at one point one of the female journalist of E.NCA was threatened with rape but that didn't stop me  from getting the story" Nicolaides stresses that "you should be patient until you get what you looking for" . She also said "journalist are the middle man- they are able to give out a message to the public". Journalist were one of the people who discovered bodies, also that the police didn't have any footage of the massacre, the journalists had it. This all came out during  the Marikana Judicial enquiry, that the police camera man who was in a helicopter forgot to press the record button.

In Nicolaides eyes since 2012 there has been no form of development or service delivery in Marikana, even after Ministers and the President flocked there after the massacre nothing has changed to the miners or the residents. Hence she said "I will follow the story of Marikana till the day I retire".

Students commented on Nicolaides visit, Bongiwe Ndhlovu a journalism student said "I learnt that journalist also have feelings, because it was M.s Nicolaides first experience covering a protest that became close to her heart". Mvuselelo Lubisi also one of the attendance said "I learned that it takes a lot to be a journalist, you must be physically and mentally capable".

Get a copy of Gia Nicolaides book at your nearest book shop to get more #Insight "Reporting from the front line" Untold stories from Marikana.

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