Commission will inspect Marikana scene

2012-10-01 12:07

(AP)

Rustenburg - The judicial commission of inquiry into the shooting at Lonmin platinum mine will inspect the scene at Marikana on Monday, retired judge Ian Farlam said.

Farlam, who was chairing the commission, said the parties would start by looking at the Lonmin mine's shafts. The commission would not go into the shafts on Monday, but do so later if needed.

The inspection would then proceed to Wonderkop, where the commission would look at the koppie were thousands of striking miners gathered in August during their six-week strike.

"We will then go see the informal settlement," said Farlam.

The commission would also inspect the so-called "klein koppie".

"We will then go to the place on the way to Karee," he said.

This is where two policemen were hacked to death and two miners killed and one injured on 13 August.

Farlam said the living conditions of the miners would be inspected - their hostels and informal housing. Lonmin had asked the commission to look at the formal housing supplied by the mine, he said.

People would be allowed to point out places which they considered relevant to the inquiry. The descriptions of what happened at the site of the violence would be recorded.

Farlam said two days had been set aside for the inspection. Oral and documented evidence would be presented to the commission on Wednesday.

- SAPA