Marikana 'highlighted role of police'
2013-01-31 13:13
Johannesburg - Debates on the role of the police in protests have been
highlighted by the shooting at Lonmin's Marikana mine last year, Police
Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Thursday.
"On one hand you [police] want to uphold the rule of law, and on the
other hand there are serious issues of responsibility," he said at a New
Age breakfast briefing in Johannesburg.
"We want to see SAPS [the SA Police Service] dealing with these matters
in a humane fashion."
He questioned whether it was correct for people to arm themselves during
protests.
"The Constitution allows everyone to express himself or herself, but it
also disallows anyone from carrying weapons publicly," Mthethwa said.
"We have been trying to tone down the maximum force, where you would
have seen... water cannons and so on. [However]... force would be used... where
it is needed. We must get that clear."
Video
National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said during the briefing that a
video of the shoot-out had been broadcast on British television because the
clip had been made available to the Farlam commission.
"Because we voluntarily submitted it [the clip] to the commission, it
is discovered evidence," she said.
"Any member in that commission has it. So, if it is leaked out or used
otherwise there isn't much [we can do]."
The commission, which is headed by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the
deaths of 44 people at the mine.
On 16 August, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded
when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group gathered on a hill
near the mine.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police officers and two
security guards, were hacked to death.
The clip was broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 News on Sunday.
Calls for restraint
It shows police keeping their guns trained on two men crawling through a
field.
It also shows a tactical response team officer calling for restraint while a
miner is on the move.
"The guy is there running. Wait. Don't shoot him, don't shoot
him," he shouts. However, gunshots are heard and the camera moves over the
lifeless body of a man.
Another officer is quoted with subtitles: "That motherfucker. I shot
him at least 10 times."
- SAPA
