No weapons near 2 Marikana bodies - expert

2012-10-31 13:05

Striking mine workers walk past a body in Marikana. (Leon Sadiki, City Press)

Rustenburg - No traditional weapons were found next to two bodies at the hill in Wonderkop, Marikana, where police shot dead 34 miners in August, the Farlam commission heard on Wednesday.

Crime scene expert Captain Apollo Mohlaki said Anele Mdizeni and Thabiso Thelejane had gunshot wounds.

Another body, that of Thobile Mphumza, was about 150m away. Mohlaki said a 9mm firearm with 15 bullets was lying a few metres from Mphumza's body.

Several traditional weapons such as knobkerries, sticks, sharpened iron rods and homemade spears were found at the hill, where several more bodies were found.

He told the commission he was called to the scene after the shooting. When he arrived there, no shooting was taking place.

"Not at all," he said when asked whether he had heard gunshots.

The commission is investigating the shooting of the mineworkers at Wonderkop, near Marikana, in North West, on August 16.

- SAPA