Marikana witness 'fears for his safety'
2013-02-14 16:04
Rustenburg - No witness testifying at the Farlam commission
of inquiry in Rustenburg should be intimidated, chairperson judge Ian Farlam
said on Thursday.
"It is important for all of us that the commission is
allowed to do its work without anyone being intimidated," he said.
"Up to now the commission proceeded in a harmonious
fashion. It is important for the commission to work properly to ascertain the
truth of these events. All witnesses that come to testify should be able to do
so without fear or violence..."
Farlam was addressing the commission at the Rustenburg Civic
Centre after a witness indicated he could no longer sleep at his house, because
three men were looking for him.
Intimidation
Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested miners, called
Vusimuzi Mandla Mabuyakhulu to testify.
Mabuyakhulu is a 32-year-old rockdrill operator at Lonmin's
Karee mine.
The inquiry heard he was previously a member of the National
Union of Mineworkers (NUM), but joined the Association of Mineworkers and
Construction Union (Amcu).
Speaking through a translator, he told the inquiry that
someone at the commission told him not to go home. Since then he had been
staying with his lawyers.
"On Tuesday, I was approached by a person at the
commission saying members of the NUM were looking for me," the said.
"I was not feeling very safe."
Karel Tip, for NUM, said Mpofu told him on Thursday morning
about the incident and said it was "unfortunate" that it was not
brought to his attention earlier.
"No event of this kind would have been sponsored by any
structure of the NUM," Tip told the commission.
He assured the commission the union was opposed to "any
sort of unlawful intimidation".
Protection
Farlam assured Mabuyakhulu the commission would do its best
to ensure anyone found intimidating a witness faced the full "wrath"
of the law.
"If anything happens, don't hesitate to inform the
commission," Farlam said to Mabuyakhulu.
"We will see to it... that you receive the protection
you require."
He said witness protection was available should anyone need
it.
Mabuyakhulu was shot and assaulted on 11 August 2012.
The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an
unprotected strike at Lonmin's Marikana mine. On 16 August, 34 striking
mineworkers were shot dead and 78 injured when police opened fire while trying
to disperse a group that 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.
The morning's procedures started with Mpofu seeking clarity
from NUM president Senzeni Zokwana on the songs union members sung at protests.
Zokwana earlier testified they were threatening. However, on Thursday he said
not all the songs should be taken literally.
The inquiry continues.
- SAPA
