I told cops to be resilient - Phiyega
2013-03-14 19:18
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Police
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Rustenburg - National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega
told mourners and police officers to be resilient at the funeral of an officer,
the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
"I addressed the mourners and members of SAPS and
encouraged them to be resilient under the circumstances, given the fact that
our job at Marikana was continuing," she said.
Phiyega was referring to the funeral of Warrant Officer
Sello Ronnie Lepaku on 19 August.
However, a video played to the commission of Phiyega
addressing police officers at a parade on 20 August, caused the public gallery
to gasp.
"You did what you did because you were being
responsible by ensuring South Africans are safe," Phiyega said at the time
over a megaphone.
"I want to thank you once more for doing what you
did... All we did was our job, and to do it in the manner in which we were
trained... Don't feel you are being persecuted as police - you were doing your
work."
People in the public gallery were shaking their heads as
they watched the video.
Phiyega was giving evidence before the commission on the
role played by the police in the events leading up to and on 16 August last
year.
On that day, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and
78 were injured when the police opened fire near Lonmin's platinum mine in
Marikana.
Ten people, including two police officers and two
security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.
- SAPA
