Marikana commission could cost R74m

2012-09-21 12:51

Sabelo Ndlangisa, City Press

Johannesburg - The estimated costs of the Marikana commission is expected to be between R68 and R74m, the justice department said.

The justice department’s director general, Nonkululeko Sindane, said the estimated costs of starting the commission and paying salaries were R24m, with additional costs expected to be between R44m and R50m.

The Farlam Commission was appointed following the deaths of more than 44 people after the bloody strike at the Lonmin platinum mine in Rustenburg.

President Jacob Zuma was expected to sign regulations that will govern the work of the commission.

The signing was set to take place on Friday and the commission, which is chaired by retired Supreme Court of Appeals judge Ian Farlam, is scheduled to start its work in Rustenburg, North West, at the beginning of next month.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Friday, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said the regulations would give powers to the commission to carry out its work.

“These regulations will enable the commission to conduct its work and investigation in a meaningful and proper way,” he said.

“These regulations will also empower the commission to gather evidence by conferring on it such powers as are necessary, including the power to enter and search premises, secure the attendance of witnesses and compel the production of documents.”

Radebe said the terms of reference for the commission had been gazetted in English, isiXhosa and seSotho to promote “greater access and understanding of the task of the commission”.

He downplayed concerns that the deployment of the army in Marikana would not be conducive to the operation of the commission, which will work from the Rustenburg Civic Centre.

He also announced the names of the evidence leaders Farlam has appointed. They are:
 
»Advocate Mbuyiseli Madlala, SC;

»Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, SC;

»Advocate Geoff Budlender, SC;

»Advocate Johannes Nxusana; and

»Advocate Charles Wesley

- City Press