Fezile David Saphendu (24) was from Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape. He began working for Lonmin in 2009, when he replaced his brother who had found another job at Impala.

On 16 August 2012 Fezile was killed at scene 2 after being shot in his underarm by the police.

He left behind his mother, brother, sister and young niece, whom he supported financially. His elder brother Ntsikelelo and his father Bhityileyo also worked at the mines.

According to his brother, Thembinkosi Saphendu, "Some of Fezile's colleagues called Ntsikelelo to alert him that they could not find Fezile in the aftermath of the police killings on 16 August 2012. This alarmed Ntsikelelo who then travelled to Marikana to investigate for himself. Sadly the place Fezile was found by Ntsikelelo was the mortuary."

Collections in the Archives