Pretoria - A police witness, dubbed Mr X, will testify in
camera, from a remote undisclosed location to the Marikana Commission of
Inquiry, retired Judge Ian Farlam ruled on Tuesday.
He told the public hearings that any publication of Mr
X's details will be prohibited.
"I make the following rulings: that the evidence of
Mr X be presented in camera and by video link. That at all times during
testimony of Mr X, one of the evidence leaders shall be present in the room
which he testifies from."
"Only the commissioners [of the inquiry], the
parties, the legal representatives, evidence leaders and accredited media
representatives shall be present in the auditorium during the testimony of Mr
X," said Farlam.
He said two weeks prior to Mr X's testimony, the SA
Police Service legal representatives at the commission shall disclose his name
to the evidence leaders and all lawyers of all other parties.
The police should also provide photographs of Mr X to the
evidence leaders and all other parties.
"They should also indicate to the evidence leaders
and the legal representatives of all parties all points at which they have been
able to identify Mr X on video footage of the events during the period 13 to 16
August, 2012," said Farlam.
Farlam's ruling followed an application by the police
seeking the protection of Mr X, owing to safety reasons.
He was apparently part of the group of protesting
Marikana miners who underwent a ritual which included two sangomas, the burning
of live sheep and swallowing of the ashes on 11 August 2012.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people
during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at
Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West.
The police shot dead 34 people, mostly striking
mineworkers, wounded over 70, and arrested 250 on 16 August 2012 while trying
to disarm and disperse them.
