Farlam makes appeal to media
2013-03-13 13:41
Rustenburg - The Farlam Commission of Inquiry made an
appeal to media houses on Wednesday to hand over any outstanding footage of the
16 August shooting at Marikana, North West.
"If there is anything that we haven't been shown,
please take steps to give it to the evidence leaders," the commission's
chairperson, retired judge Ian Farlam, said in Rustenburg.
"It is vitally important that we do our utmost best
to get to the truth."
Farlam said it was important that footage of the 16 August
shooting not be withheld, and that the commission's findings would go down in
history.
He said material should not be withheld to exonerate or
implicate people.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested miners,
told the commission he "stumbled upon footage" which had not been
presented to the commission.
"I am aware that there is an ethical
implication," he said.
"I would like to make a special appeal to the
SABC... to release material."
Mpofu was speaking ahead of his re-examination of Lonmin
miner Mzoxolo Magidiwana, who was wounded during the shooting.
Magidiwana told the commission on Monday that two
journalists were present when police assaulted him.
On Tuesday, he recognised one of the journalists in a
picture shown to the commission.
On Wednesday, Mpofu said his team had identified two
journalists who fit the description Magidiwana gave, and he would provide the
names to the commission.
"I am meeting with the one on Saturday," he
said.
Mpofu said he had found footage which had not been shown
to the commission before, and indicated he would use it during his
re-examination.
"The first clip is quite short and collateral, but
the main footage will require a warning," he said.
Farlam said it was important to warn the commission
before footage was played of people being shot or assaulted, because of the
sensitivity of the matter, and because relatives of the miners were present at
the hearings, being held in the Rustenburg civic centre.
The commission
The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during
an unprotected strike at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana.
On 16 August, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and
78 injured when the police opened fire while trying to disperse a group
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.
During his re-examination Magidiwana, 23, started crying
when he spoke about the advice and warnings he received from his father to not
join the strike, but to return home to the Eastern Cape.
The commission adjourned to allow him to compose himself.
Before the short adjournment, Magidiwana apologised to
President Jacob Zuma for saying on Tuesday that every man, including the
president, carried an assegai or stick when leaving his house.
Police commissioner Riah Phiyega is expected to testify
before the commission after the re-examination.
- SAPA
