Marikana Shootings Farlam Commission Thread

Phiyega back at Commission

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega returned to the Farlam Commission to resume her cross-examination on Thursday.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, ordered that Phiyega be sworn-in again.

Phiyega's cross-examination was interrupted last month when Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners, was stabbed in East London in an apparent robbery.

Mpofu had been in the middle of his cross-examination.

On Thursday, he recapped several aspects he had covered with Phiyega before the disruption.

Mpofu questioned Phiyega on whether she still believed the police's action was correct during the Marikana crowd dispersal operation.

Phiyega said she would await the outcome of the commission to determine her views on the matter.

"The testimony I have given has not changed," she said.

The commission, sitting in Rustenburg, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during the Marikana wage-related unrest last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.


Source : Sapa /nsm/tk/dd/jk
Date : 23 May 2013 10:55
 
Phiyega Rejects Sowetan Report

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega was misrepresented in a Sowetan newspaper article shortly after the Marikana shootings, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

Under cross-examination by Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners, Phiyega denied quotes attributed to her in the newspaper.

According to the article, Phiyega said police should not be sorry about shooting dead 34 miners on August 16 during the wage-related strike at Lonmin's platinum mine last year.

She had been speaking at the funeral of Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaku on August 20.

Striking mineworkers killed Lepaku during the unrest. Another officer was also killed and one was injured.

"[The] safety of the public is not negotiable. Take into account the reasons why we did what we did," Phiyega was quoted as saying.

On Thursday, Phiyega denied she said any of this. It was a serious misrepresentation of what she had actually said at the funeral.

"I hold no authority on the words written by a journalist," she said.

Everything she said at the funeral had been scripted, and her script from the funeral did not contain any of the things the Sowetan reported on.

"If you look at other newspaper reports, not one of the others say this," said Phiyega.

Mpofu said merely because those words were not printed in her scripted speech, it did not necessarily mean she had not said them.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, enquired whether there was any video footage or audio available from the funeral.

Ishmael Semenya, for the police, said he was not sure and would look into it.

Mpofu also questioned why Phiyega had not followed up with the newspaper. If the content was untrue, it would have had a damaging effect on herself and the SA Police Service, he said.

"I didn't dispute it, because we were not responding to any statements at the time. We wanted to give this process [the commission] a chance," Phiyega responded.

"I was hopeful that we would get the opportunity to correct it."

Mpofu said Phiyega's lawyers had failed to raise the misrepresentation of her speech during her evidence-in-chief.

Phiyega said she believed that in taking part in the commission and answering the questions posed to her, she felt they were addressing it.

"I'm happy for this opportunity to address the commission. If they [Sowetan] have an appetite to correct it, they can do so. If they do not, I am doing it here," she said.

The commission, sitting in Rustenburg, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during the Marikana unrest.

Police shot dead 34 striking Lonmin mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.


Source : Sapa /nsm/dd/jk/th
Date : 23 May 2013 13:42
 
Familes walk out on Phiyega

The families of mineworkers killed during the Marikana unrest walked out of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Thursday during the continued cross-examination of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

The families stood up and walked out of the Rustenburg Civic Centre when Phiyega repeatedly failed to answer questions about video footage played to the commission.

The footage, which was taken on the day police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers, showed police jogging forward and forming a line.

Dali Mpofu, for the miners who were wounded and arrested that day, asked Phiyega was happening in the footage.

"I can't say which way they are moving, whether they are moving in or out," she said.

Mpofu asked that several clips from the footage be played to the commission.

In one, a police official is heard screaming "cease fire", but gunshots continue to ring out in the background. Another police official is heard shouting "We'll shoot you".

Mpofu asked whether this was an example of responsible policing.

Phiyega said that just because the police had not immediately stopped shooting, did not mean they were not being compliant.

She said the video should be viewed in context and that the commission should remember the "spirit of what was happening".

She refused to say whether the comment by the police official was irresponsible.

"The context and situation doesn't allow me to judge that," she said.

Mpofu said he would submit that Phiyega was evading the questions.

In the clip, police are seen removing weapons from some of the miners lying on the ground, some of whom are presumably dead.

It is unclear whether medical personnel are on the scene, as none are visible in the footage.

In earlier cross-examination, Phiyega told the commission the weapons were removed for the safety of the paramedics.

On Thursday, she said she could not say whether paramedics were already at the scene when the weapons were removed.

She denied that the police's removal of the weapons could be taken as tampering with the a crime scene.

"No. Some people were still alive. Me and you, at face value cannot say whether they were alive or dead. The... issue of danger would have still been present," she said.

In the clip, police are seen dragging people from the scene. A police official is seen placing a boot on the head of one protester.

When the video was first played, Phiyega said the boot was placed above the person's head and not on top of him.

However, when the video was played again, Phiyega acknowledged that the boot was on the person's head.

She said the commission should remember that the police officials deployed to Marikana had worked under difficult circumstances.

The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during the Marikana unrest last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.


Source : Sapa /nsm/jk/clh/dd
Date : 23 May 2013 14:38
 
Wow, these families do a lot of walking out, hey?

One wonders why they bother to go to the hearings at all.
 
Cops did not help their victims

Policemen did little to help the miners they shot at Marikana last year, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

Dali Mpofu, for the arrested and injured miners, asked whether police were not trained to help injured people or give first aid.

Mpofu played footage taken on August 16, when police shot dead the miners at Lonmin's platinum mine. The footage shows officers searching those lying down and later standing around the scene.

In response, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said she could not say why the police did not help the injured.

"The generals can answer that," she said.

Mpofu said when police officers were injured during clashes with the striking miners on August 13, two helicopters were sent to take them to hospital.

On August 16 there were four helicopters, yet none of them were used to transport the injured, he said. When Phiyega disagreed, Mpofu added that the helicopters were only used much later after the shooting.

Footage of the paramedics arriving at the scene was also viewed. Mpofu described the paramedics' arrival as casual. No sirens were switched on and they drove in at normal speed.

He reminded the commission that one of the injured miners who testified said he heard one Zulu-speaking officer call to the paramedics for help.

The miner said he heard the officers laughing and taking pictures of the men lying on the ground.

In response, Phiyega said: "I don't know whether someone had cracked a joke. On the pictures, I don't know whether anyone was all willy-nilly taking pictures. I haven't seen [those pictures]."

An audio transcript from one video was read to the commission.

According to the transcript one officer said: "It is muti... It's this muti ****. It doesn't work here, baba."

Mpofu said transcribers had not included the words of a Sotho-speaking officer, as they were not clearly audible.

Mpofu said the Sotho-speaking officer had said: "It was me. It was me. I've blown him apart."

He advised Phiyega to listen to the audio when the commission adjourned and asked her whether these remarks could be called responsible policing.

"To avoid issues of subjectivity, I cannot comment on that," Phiyega said.

The commission also reviewed the statement of Warrant Officer Hendrich Myburgh. Myburgh said in his statement that while at the scene one officer shot at a miner lying on the ground. Myburgh stated he asked the officer what he was doing.

The officer replied: "They deserve to die."

Mpofu asked Phiyega whether this comment could be regarded as responsible policing.

Phiyega said she could not comment as Myburgh had failed to identify the officer. She said Myburgh's statement was therefore inconclusive.

"You're the most evasive witness I've ever spoken to," said Mpofu.

The hearings continue on Monday.


Source : Sapa /nsm/hdw/dd/th
Date : 23 May 2013 18:00
 
Phiyega Not ready to apologise: Lawyer

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega is not ready to acknowledge and apologise for the police action in Marikana last year, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

"Your attitude is typical of the undesirable behaviour of officialdom. You don't acknowledge and apologise, even for the blatant instructions," said Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners.

"You haven't said sorry. All you have said is that you never said that you are not sorry," Mpofu said while cross-examining her.

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during unrest near Lonmin's platinum mine last year. On August 16, police shot dead 34 miners. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police officers and security guards, were killed.

Mpofu questioned Phiyega about an article in the Sowetan newspaper, in which she was quoted as saying that police should not be sorry about shooting dead the miners. She was speaking at the funeral of Warrant Officer Sello Lepaku on August 20, one of those killed in the unrest.

Mpofu said Phiyega's failure to take legal or other steps to refute the statements attributed to her was not consistent with her rejection of the report.

"I disagree with the statement," Phiyega said.

Mpofu then asked Phiyega why it was difficult for her to say she was sorry. Phiyega said she had already responded individually to the issues Mpofu had raised.


Source : Sapa /gm/dd/jk/th
Date : 27 May 2013 13:28
 
Zuma Extends Marikana Inquiry

President Jacob Zuma has extended the period for the Farlam Commission of Inquiry beyond the end of May, its chairman retired judge Ian Farlam said on Tuesday.

"The president is extending this sitting, as it was originally planned to be completed by the end of May, to go beyond that period," Farlam said.

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during unrest near Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last year.

On August 16, police shot dead 34 miners. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.

Tuesday marked the 100th day since the commission started its work, operating from the Rustenburg Civic Centre.

Farlam also ruled on the application by lawyers to move the commission's sitting from Rustenburg to Pretoria.

"I am satisfied with the applications and submissions made for the move to Pretoria. Applicants have articulated how they are required to spend a lot of money, and with tight resources, to be here."

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe had given the move to Pretoria the go-ahead, said Farlam.

Two parties to the commission had said they would be unable to participate further if the inquiry did not move.

Local and traditional communities had indicated that they would be prejudiced by the move, he said.

"In that regard, I am also satisfied that there is no real substance to this concern, because they are legally represented.

"Their legal representation will be able to keep them informed about the activities of the commission."

Lonmin mine, which had been providing transport to the inquiry for communities in the area and the miners, had agreed to ferry them to Centurion, said Farlam.

The commission would sit at a venue in Centurion on June 4 and June 6. he said the venue was not available on June 3 and 5.

He thanked the Rustenburg local municipality for letting the commission use its civic centre free of charge.


Source : Sapa /gm/jk/dd/clh
Date : 28 May 2013 16:37
 
Lawyer Dali Mpofu's statements directed at national police commissioner Riah Phiyega were shot down by other lawyers at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday.

Mpofu, for the miners who were wounded and arrested in a clash with police on August 16 last year, suggested the police had shown no impartiality in their actions at Marikana and had sided with Lonmin.

"On August 13, you were the only person present at the Lonmin premises for a briefing by the company?" Mpofu asked Phiyega.

Schalk Burger, for Lonmin, objected that Mpofu was trying to argue his closing speech and get Phiyega to comment on it.

Mpofu said there was a "toxic" relationship between the police and Lonmin, and that Lonmin "stoked the flames" of union rivalry during the unrest.

Burger again objected, this time that there was no basis to claim that Lonmin and the police had colluded and had a "toxic" relationship.

"What do you rely on regarding this toxic relationship?... Based on what? On nonsense?... This is wrong and harmful to my client and I object," he said.

Mpofu claimed "improper pressure" had been put on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa by National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) president Senzo Zokwana and African National Congress deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

In his statement to the commission, Mthethwa said both Zokwana and Ramaphosa had phoned on August 12 to raise concerns about the events at Marikana.

Mthethwa said he told them he would convey their concerns and requests to Phiyega.

She, in turn, promised Mthethwa that police were attending to the matter.

"It was the improper efforts by politically-connected individuals to get the minister to see the event as a criminal one, rather than a labour dispute," Mpofu submitted.

Commission chairman retired judge Ian Farlam, asked what was improper about one side raising issues with the police, and perhaps escalating them higher to the minister.

Mpofu said it would no longer be improper if some of the miners were able to fly to Parliament in Cape Town and ask to speak to a minister or the president and be successful in that request.

Ishmael Semenya, for the police, objected that Mpofu's statement was unfair.

The commission, sitting in Centurion, Pretoria, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during violent unrest near Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last year.

On August 16, police shot dead 34 miners. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.


Source : Sapa /gm/hdw/clh/jk
Date : 04 Jun 2013 16:28
 
Media reports that 500 police officers were being investigated for murder, attempted murder, and fraud were discussed at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Thursday.

Dali Mpofu, for the miners arrested and wounded during last year's unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, said he heard the report on radio in the morning.

He raised the issue as he cross-examined national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

"Is that the level... of lawlessness of police?" he asked her.

Ishmael Semenya, for the police, objected and asked whether the question was relevant.

In response, Mpofu said: "If the outcome of this commission is that police behaviour... should be improved, then this can be used as a basis. Before you can diagnose a problem, you need to know the extent of the problem," said Mpofu.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, asked Phiyega whether the number of police officers currently being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate was about the same number as last year.

Phiyega said she did not believe the numbers had drastically escalated from August last year.

The commission, sitting in Centurion, is investigating the deaths of 44 people killed during the unrest. Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers and security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

Earlier on Thursday, Mpofu suggested that police might have "misdiagnosed" the situation at Lonmin. If police did not have the correct details of the conflict, they could not have had an accurate plan to resolve it, he said.

"If I can prove at the end that there was a series of misdiagnoses of the situation, then the police's plan was doomed to fail."

Mpofu said police did not appropriately address the situation, as they believed the unrest was largely associated with union rivalry. Workers, however, also wanted higher wages.

The hearing continues.


Source : Sapa /nsm/hdw/jk/th
Date : 06 Jun 2013 12:56
 
Cops Misdiagnosed Marikana

Police misdiagnosed the situation at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana during last year's unrest, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry was told on Thursday.

Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners, said if police did not have the correct details of the conflict, they could not have had an accurate plan to resolve it.

"If I can prove at the end that there was a series of misdiagnoses of the situation, then the police's plan was doomed to fail," he said.

Mpofu was cross-examining national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

He said police did not appropriately address the situation, as they believed the unrest was largely associated with union rivalry. Workers, however, also wanted higher wages.

The commission, sitting in Centurion, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during the unrest.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers and security guards, were killed in the preceding week.


Source : Sapa /nsm/hdw/th/jk
Date : 06 Jun 2013 12:01
 
How much has this cost us now ? (Saw they moved venue on tv other day to save money).
 
A new witness will take to the stand at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry when it resumes in Centurion on Friday.

The commission is expected to hear the testimony of Maj-Gen William Mpembe, who police officers threatened to kill following the murders of two of their colleagues during the unrest at Lonmin last year.

In previous evidence, by Lt-Col Solomon Vermaak, the commission heard that they blamed Mpembe, who is North West deputy police commissioner, for the deaths of their colleagues.

The policemen, who were hacked to death, were among 10 people who died in strike-related violence the week before the police opened fire on miners, killing 34 of them, near Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, on August 16. The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding all 44 deaths.

On Thursday, lawyer Dali Mpofu, for the miners wounded and arrested on August 16, finished cross-examining national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

While Phiyega had hoped it would be her last day at the commission, its chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, told her she would have to appear again next week to be cross-examined by another lawyer.

This would be followed by her re-examination by Ishmael Semenya, who is appearing for the police.


Source : Sapa /mv/clh
Date : 07 Jun 2013 02:01
 
Maj-Gen William Mpembe gave his evidence-in-chief at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Centurion on Friday.

The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the circumstances that led to the death of 44 people during unrest at Lonmin's Platinum mine in Marikana in North West last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Another 10 people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

Previous witnesses testified that police officials had issued threats to Mpembe, blaming him for the deaths of the two officers.

The pair was hacked to death on August 13 -- the same day that Mpembe arrived in Marikana.

Mpembe, who is the deputy provincial commissioner responsible for operational matters, said national police commissioner Riah Phiyega had instructed him to stay in Marikana to address the situation.

According to Mpembe, Phiyega said to him the situation warranted that he stay and help with the operation.

Mpembe told the commission that since completing his basic police training in 1996, he had received extensive training in crowd management.

This included how to compile plans for police operations and how to execute such plans.

Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police, is leading Mpembe in delivering his evidence-in-chief.


Source : Sapa /nsm/gq/rod/jk
Date : 07 Jun 2013 12:22
 
I Saw Cops Being Killed: Mpembe

North West deputy provincial commissioner Maj-Gen William Mpembe on Friday told the Farlam Commission how he saw two police officers being hacked to death during the Marikana unrest last year.

Mpembe said the two officers, Tsietsi Monene and Sello Lepaku, were killed as police escorted striking mineworkers on August 13.

"I heard [teargas] shooting. I then realised that strikers had turned against police. It wasn't a very good scene... ," he said.

"I saw warrant officer Monene being chopped and killed in front of me... I saw how officer Lepaku was killed."

Several of the officers' family members were upset by Mpembe's testimony and left the auditorium in Centurion.

"Captain Baloyi defended himself... At the same time, the police came to his rescue and he was taken to hospital," said Mpembe.

The strikers robbed the dead officers of their pistols, a shotgun and rifle.

Mpembe said he then decided police should withdraw and return to the joint operations centre.

He later identified the officer who had fired the teargas when the strikers turned on police.

"He said he had heard an order [to fire], but he couldn't tell me who gave the order," said Mpembe.

"The emotions were extremely high, but as a senior officer, I tried to cool down the members," he added.

Mpembe said he was then approached by Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak, who told him that his life was in danger.

A statement by Vermaak stated that other officers had blamed Mpembe for the deaths of their colleagues.

They claimed to have been against Mpembe's instruction to go after the armed strikers.

Mpembe said he told Vermaak he would not withdraw from the operation until he had handed over to Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo.

The commission heard that the officers were killed just several hours after Mpembe's arrival at Marikana.

He said he had been on leave and was called to Marikana by provincial police commissioner Luzuko Mbombo that morning.

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega then appointed him overall commander of the operation.

The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of 44 people during the unrest at Lonmin's Platinum mine in Marikana last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Another 10 people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

Mpembe, led by Vuyani Ngalwana, is delivering his evidence-in-chief before the commission.


Source : Sapa /nsm/jk/rod
Date : 07 Jun 2013 12:49
 
Gap in Marikana video reported

There is a gap in the video footage taken at Marikana on August 13 last year and shown to the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, a senior police officer said on Monday.

North West deputy police chief Maj-Gen William Mpembe recalled the day striking Lonmin mineworkers turned on police and hacked two officers to death.

"There is a gap, the camera could not work from a distance," he told the commission in Centurion during his evidence-in-chief.

Police officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Lepaku were hacked to death on August 13 as police escorted a group of about 200 strikers to a hill where more strikers had gathered.

Mpembe said the video camera used by police to shoot the footage was old.

Once the officer operating the camera started to move on foot to follow the mineworkers, a mechanical fault occurred and the video went blank. The officer climbed into a police vehicle to continue recording.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, questioned Mpembe on the timeframe of the gap as well as the events that unfolded during the gap.

"The movement of the people and also the shooting of a stun grenade [happened]," Mpembe replied.

He was not good at estimating time, but said the stun grenade and teargas were shot shortly after the disruption in the recording.

In the clip, the group of armed men are seen crouching as they walked, while clicking their weapons against each other and on the floor to make a noise, and ululating before they attacked the officers.

"One could not understand what was happening," said Mpembe, who is being led by Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police.

Ngalwana asked if Mpembe had ever heard ululating during a crowd management situation.

Mpembe responded: "No chairperson. The only experience I had was during the violence in Soweto that was prior to 1994... but people were not carrying such dangerous weapons or ululating."

He said he told officers at an earlier briefing that if the striking mineworkers crossed the police line, officers should allow them to do so because he did not want a confrontation.

While the strikers were headed to the hill a police officer fired teargas at them and the strikers then turned on police and hacked two of them to death. Another was injured.

"Chairperson, at that moment I did not give an order and I am not aware who gave the order [to fire the teargas]," said Mpembe.

The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin Platinum's mine in Marikana, North West, in August last year.

On August 16, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police fired on them while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near the mine.

Ten people, including the two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.

The hearing continues.


Source : Sapa /dm/hdw/jk/jje
Date : 10 Jun 2013 12:46
 
Commanders had a plan for Marikana: Mphembe

The police joint operational co-ordinating committee (JOCCOM) discussed and adopted a plan to prevent striking Lonmin mineworkers from gathering on a hill at Marikana armed, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

"After discussions at JOC [a joint operations centre established at the mine] we came up with a plan," North West deputy police chief Maj-Gen William Mpembe said.

Mpembe told the commission, sitting in Centurion, that the initial plan to cordon off the hill, then search and disarm those on it, was rejected because it was not feasible, and there were not enough resources to implement the plan.

He said the JOCCOM adopted a strategy to negotiate a "peaceful solution", to saturate the area with police officers, and to engage and negotiate with protesters, mine management, and unions.

"The JOCCOM was of the view to continue negotiations so the problem could be solved using non-tactical methods," Mpembe explained.

"We decided not to disarm the strikers, because if we did police would be seen to be not negotiating in good faith."

He said the striking mineworkers were in possession of police radios and could hear what police were communicating internally, which put the officers at risk of being attacked.

"To disarm them during the day was a risk."

Mpembe said he was tasked with negotiating with Lonmin's management.

"Management at the mine assisted in identifying the strikers," he said.

The mine requested police to remain quiet about their assistance, and not tell the unions, to protect management.

He said the minutes of the JOC meeting could not be found.

Earlier, the commission saw two different videos from August 13, when striking Lonmin mineworkers turned on police and hacked two officers to death.

Mpembe told the commission there was a gap in the video footage taken by police.

"There is a gap, the camera could not work from a distance," he said during his evidence-in-chief.

Police officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Lepaku were hacked to death on August 13 as police escorted a group of about 200 strikers to a hill where more strikers had gathered.

Mpembe said the video camera used by police to shoot the footage was old.

Once the officer operating the camera started to move on foot to follow the mineworkers, a mechanical fault occurred and the video went blank.

The officer climbed into a police vehicle to continue recording.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, questioned Mpembe on the timeframe of the gap as well as the events that unfolded during the gap.

The movement of the people and also the shooting of a stun grenade happened, Mpembe replied.

He was not good at estimating time, but said the stun grenade and teargas were shot shortly after the disruption in the recording.

In the first clip, the group of armed men were seen crouching as they walked, while clicking their weapons against each other and on the ground to make a noise, and ululating before they attacked the officers.

"One could not understand what was happening," said Mpembe, who was being led by Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police.

Ngalwana asked if Mpembe had ever heard ululating during a crowd management situation.

Mpembe responded: "No chairperson. The only experience I had was during the violence in Soweto that was prior to 1994... but people were not carrying such dangerous weapons or ululating."

The second clip was shot at a far distance with a wide view of what happened.

Mpembe described seeing smoke and then shortly afterwards more smoke coming from where police were in the group of striking mineworkers.

"There is smoke and then two lines of smoke. Looks like a stun grenade," he said.

He said he told officers at an earlier briefing that if the striking mineworkers crossed the police line, officers should allow them to do so because he did not want a confrontation.

While the strikers were headed to the hill a police officer fired teargas at them and the strikers then turned on police and hacked two of them to death. Another was injured.

"Chairperson, at that moment I did not give an order and I am not aware who gave the order [to fire the teargas]," said Mpembe.

The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin Platinum's mine in Marikana, North West, in August last year.

On August 16, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police fired on them while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near the mine.

Ten people, including the two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.

The hearing continues.


Source : Sapa /dm/jje/jk
Date : 10 Jun 2013 15:40
 
Strikers were supposed to lay down Weapons: Police

An Amcu official reassured police that striking Lonmin miners would voluntarily lay down their weapons, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

North West deputy police chief Maj-Gen William Mpembe said a day before the August 16 shooting, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa told them the mineworkers would voluntarily disarm.

"Our impression was that they are willing to go back to work," Mpembe told the commission, sitting in Centurion.

"Mathunjwa said the people would lay down their weapons voluntarily at 9am and disperse peacefully [on August 16]."

He said he held a meeting with mine management and unions on August 15, asking them to intervene to ask their members to disperse.

The platinum mine's management approached the strikers without a union present, he added.

The commission heard Mpembe was tasked with negotiating with Lonmin's management as part of the police plan to prevent armed mineworkers from gathering on a hill at Marikana.

He said the initial plan to cordon off the hill, then search and disarm those on it, was rejected because it was not feasible, and there were not enough resources to implement it.

He said police adopted a strategy to negotiate a "peaceful solution", to saturate the area with police officers, and negotiate with protesters, mine management, and unions.

"We decided not to disarm the strikers, because if we did police would be seen to be not negotiating in good faith," he said.

The commission heard that the strikers had police radios and could hear what police were communicating internally, which put the officers at risk of being attacked.

Mpembe told the commission that Lonmin management helped identify the mineworkers on strike, but asked police not to tell the unions about their assistance.

Earlier, the commission saw two different videos from August 13, when striking Lonmin mineworkers turned on police and killed two officers.

Police officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Lepaku were hacked to death on August 13 as police escorted a group of about 200 strikers to a hill where more strikers had gathered.

Describing the behaviour of the strikers, Mpembe said the group crouched as they walked, beat their weapons against each other and on the ground, and ululated before they attacked the officers.

"One could not understand what was happening," Mpembe replied to questions from Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police.

Ngalwana asked if Mpembe had ever heard ululating during a crowd management situation.

Mpembe responded: "No chairperson. The only experience I had was during the violence in Soweto that was prior to 1994... but people were not carrying such dangerous weapons or ululating."

The miners attacked the police after a stun grenade was fired in their direction, the commission heard.

The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin Platinum's mine in Marikana in the North West. On August 16, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 wounded. Ten people, including the two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.

The hearing resumes on Tuesday with Mpembe giving his evidence-in-chief.


Source : Sapa /dm/th/ad
Date : 10 Jun 2013 19:53
 
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