Emotional scenes at Marikana inspection
2013-03-20 13:07
Video
2013-03-15 08:38
A family member cried uncontrollably as national police chief Riah Phiyega voiced condolences to those affected at the Marikana shooting in the North West. Watch.WATCH
Marikana buy now
Marikana - Relatives of Lonmin miners were visibly emotional
as the Farlam Commission of Inquiry held an in loco inspection at Lonmin's
platinum mine in Marikana on Wednesday morning.
They held onto each other, some consoling those crying, as
the commission visited the mine's K3 shaft and retraced the steps of miners and
police officers on 13 August last year, where two police officers and three
miners were killed.
North West deputy police commissioner General William Mpembe
explained what happened on the day when he tried to address the striking
miners.
"I was communicating with them, with the policemen
standing on the opposite side," he said.
The policemen, present at the inspection, stood opposite the
railway line, the way they had on that day.
He told the commission he was trying to prevent the striking
group from heading to the nearby informal settlement.
Key areas
Advocate Dali Mpofu , for the injured and arrested miners,
introduced the commission to two miners who were part of that group.
Simphiwe Booi and Xolani Nzuza joined Mpembe in pointing out
key areas and routes they planned to testify on before the inquiry.
Police officers walked in front, behind and on the sides of
the large group as they moved across the veld. Family members of the miners
attentively listened to what was said.
The commission's chairperson, retired judge Ian Farlam , led
the inspection and asked questions for clarity while key positions were pointed
out and filmed for the commission.
National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega , who testified on
Tuesday, would not be able to continue giving evidence on Wednesday as she had
to be in Parliament, the commission heard.
Farlam decided that her cross-examination would resume on
Monday.
The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an
unprotected strike at Lonmin Platinum's mine in Marikana.
On 16 August6, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78
were injured when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group which had
gathered on a hill near the mine.
Ten people, including two police officers and two security
guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.
- SAPA
