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Sign up with GoogleMarikana Shootings Farlam Commission Thread
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
SHOT MINERS WERE RUNNING AWAY: LAWYER
Protesting Marikana miners were shot by police while they were fleeing on August 16, 2012, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Citing the names of some of the slain miners, Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, for families of the deceased miners, said evidence gathered from the scene gave clues which depicted how the protesters died.
"With relevance to the position in which Mr [Thabiso Johannes] Thelejane's body was lying, our argument will be that at its very least, it appears as though he was running away from the NIU [police national intervention unit]," said Ntsebeza.
He was cross-examining North West deputy provincial commissioner Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo. The senior policeman said he did not want to comment on Ntsebeza's assertion.
Ntsebeza also presented an exhibit of several pictures and an analysis of the directions from which bullets hit the body of dead miner Anele Mdizeni.
"The point we are making here is that there were no traditional weapons found there [near the body] and it will be our argument that it is unlikely that Mdizeni was shot and eventually died as he was charging at the police's NIU line," said Ntsebeza.
Naidoo said he had arrived at the scene after the shootings.
"The issue of the [traditional] weapons, the various NIU members who secured the scene and removed the prisoners, we can ascertain from them what exactly occurred."
"Other than that, I will not be able to comment on the proposition," said Naidoo.
Ntsebeza read out details of Mdizeni's multiple injuries, including numerous abrasions all over his body. He said forensic analysis revealed that Mdizeni's spinal column had been shattered.
"There has to be an explanation of where these abrasions came from," said Ntsebeza.
"Our argument will be that the facts we see in the slides are inconsistent with any suggestion that Mr Mdizeni was charging at SA Police Service members when he was shot."
Naidoo said he was not on the scene when the miners were killed. He said he did not see any of the miners' bodies being dragged by police officers.
A compilation of pictures captured at the shooting scene shows that there were several cable ties around Mdizeni's body. The cable ties had been used and cut.
The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk
Date : 12 Mar 2014 14:34
Protesting Marikana miners were shot by police while they were fleeing on August 16, 2012, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Citing the names of some of the slain miners, Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, for families of the deceased miners, said evidence gathered from the scene gave clues which depicted how the protesters died.
"With relevance to the position in which Mr [Thabiso Johannes] Thelejane's body was lying, our argument will be that at its very least, it appears as though he was running away from the NIU [police national intervention unit]," said Ntsebeza.
He was cross-examining North West deputy provincial commissioner Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo. The senior policeman said he did not want to comment on Ntsebeza's assertion.
Ntsebeza also presented an exhibit of several pictures and an analysis of the directions from which bullets hit the body of dead miner Anele Mdizeni.
"The point we are making here is that there were no traditional weapons found there [near the body] and it will be our argument that it is unlikely that Mdizeni was shot and eventually died as he was charging at the police's NIU line," said Ntsebeza.
Naidoo said he had arrived at the scene after the shootings.
"The issue of the [traditional] weapons, the various NIU members who secured the scene and removed the prisoners, we can ascertain from them what exactly occurred."
"Other than that, I will not be able to comment on the proposition," said Naidoo.
Ntsebeza read out details of Mdizeni's multiple injuries, including numerous abrasions all over his body. He said forensic analysis revealed that Mdizeni's spinal column had been shattered.
"There has to be an explanation of where these abrasions came from," said Ntsebeza.
"Our argument will be that the facts we see in the slides are inconsistent with any suggestion that Mr Mdizeni was charging at SA Police Service members when he was shot."
Naidoo said he was not on the scene when the miners were killed. He said he did not see any of the miners' bodies being dragged by police officers.
A compilation of pictures captured at the shooting scene shows that there were several cable ties around Mdizeni's body. The cable ties had been used and cut.
The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk
Date : 12 Mar 2014 14:34
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
'SAPS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST WOUNDED MINERS'
Wounded Marikana miners were treated disparagingly by police officers who had shot them, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
Dali Mpofu, SC, for wounded and arrested miners, questioned North West deputy provincial commissioner Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo on why police helicopters were not used to ferry the injured miners.
"I am going to argue at the end that the way the SA Police Service treated the injured protesters differed significantly from the way you treated other citizens in the same position."
"That indicates that you, as SAPS, placed less store in the safety of other people who were not your members."
Naidoo said he understood the assertion.
Mpofu cited the incident involving Lieutenant ****umo Baloyi who was allegedly stabbed by the protesters and was airlifted to hospital in a police helicopter on August 13, 2012.
"That emergency rescue may have saved Lt Baloyi's life," said Mpofu.
"I want to contrast that with the situation where people were severely injured on August 16 [2012], and there were actually four [SAPS] helicopters on the scene but it took an hour for those injured to be attended to."
Naidoo said there were policies guiding the transportation of civilians in police vehicles.
"I am not contesting the fact that there were X number of helicopters there. Around the use of police vehicles, I know that there is a tendency of discouraging the transportation of injured people, non-SAPS members.
"Rather they use emergency personnel [transport]," he said.
Mpofu said it appeared strange that a wounded group of miners at scene two got medical assistance initially before the wounded group at scene one.
He said the miners at scene one were wounded around 30 minutes before their colleagues were shot at the second scene.
Naidoo was one of the lead police commanders during the intervention to control a violent strike-related protest.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the violence. President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp
Date : 13 Mar 2014 14:59
Wounded Marikana miners were treated disparagingly by police officers who had shot them, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
Dali Mpofu, SC, for wounded and arrested miners, questioned North West deputy provincial commissioner Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo on why police helicopters were not used to ferry the injured miners.
"I am going to argue at the end that the way the SA Police Service treated the injured protesters differed significantly from the way you treated other citizens in the same position."
"That indicates that you, as SAPS, placed less store in the safety of other people who were not your members."
Naidoo said he understood the assertion.
Mpofu cited the incident involving Lieutenant ****umo Baloyi who was allegedly stabbed by the protesters and was airlifted to hospital in a police helicopter on August 13, 2012.
"That emergency rescue may have saved Lt Baloyi's life," said Mpofu.
"I want to contrast that with the situation where people were severely injured on August 16 [2012], and there were actually four [SAPS] helicopters on the scene but it took an hour for those injured to be attended to."
Naidoo said there were policies guiding the transportation of civilians in police vehicles.
"I am not contesting the fact that there were X number of helicopters there. Around the use of police vehicles, I know that there is a tendency of discouraging the transportation of injured people, non-SAPS members.
"Rather they use emergency personnel [transport]," he said.
Mpofu said it appeared strange that a wounded group of miners at scene two got medical assistance initially before the wounded group at scene one.
He said the miners at scene one were wounded around 30 minutes before their colleagues were shot at the second scene.
Naidoo was one of the lead police commanders during the intervention to control a violent strike-related protest.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the violence. President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp
Date : 13 Mar 2014 14:59
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MARIKANA COP QUIZZED ON 'TAMPERING'
Police evidence suggesting traditional weapons were removed from dead and injured Marikana miners at the request of paramedics came under scrutiny on Thursday.
This happened before the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Centurion as lawyer Dali Mpofu cross-examined North West deputy police chief Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo.
Mpofu, for arrested and wounded miners, was exploring allegations that the scene after the August 16, 2012, shootings had been tampered with.
"The gist of the SAPS explanation for the removal of weapons was to assist paramedics," he said.
"It was even said some of the paramedics had voiced concerns about their safety."
Naidoo replied that there were statements proving the medics requested for the scene to be cleared before they could attend the injured.
Mpofu said at scene 1, there was uncontested evidence showing that weapons were removed immediately from the miners' bodies after the shootings.
"That removal of weapons cannot be explained on the basis of some medics who were saying this or that because they (paramedics) were not there about an hour," he said.
Naidoo said he could not explain why the weapons were removed from the bodies.
Jason Brickhill, for the Legal Resources Centre, asked Naidoo to explain why police officers who were "suspects" in the shooting had been allowed to work on the crime scene management.
"What I want to put to you is that the group of K9 members who discharged firearms at scene 2, including you, was under your command," said Brickhill.
"The officers that fired the shots constitute, in theory, potential suspects in relation to the deaths that took place at scene 2."
Naidoo said he did not agree.
"When a member responds to a crime scene and shoots a suspect in trying to arrest him, there are responsibilities allocated to him in terms of what the officer discovers there," he said.
"If we are saying a member involved in this (shooting) should step outside the scene and wait for someone to arrive, that is impractical. We were not having an ideal situation there."
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
The public hearings continue.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/ks/lp
Date : 13 Mar 2014 15:44
Police evidence suggesting traditional weapons were removed from dead and injured Marikana miners at the request of paramedics came under scrutiny on Thursday.
This happened before the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Centurion as lawyer Dali Mpofu cross-examined North West deputy police chief Maj-Gen Ganasen Naidoo.
Mpofu, for arrested and wounded miners, was exploring allegations that the scene after the August 16, 2012, shootings had been tampered with.
"The gist of the SAPS explanation for the removal of weapons was to assist paramedics," he said.
"It was even said some of the paramedics had voiced concerns about their safety."
Naidoo replied that there were statements proving the medics requested for the scene to be cleared before they could attend the injured.
Mpofu said at scene 1, there was uncontested evidence showing that weapons were removed immediately from the miners' bodies after the shootings.
"That removal of weapons cannot be explained on the basis of some medics who were saying this or that because they (paramedics) were not there about an hour," he said.
Naidoo said he could not explain why the weapons were removed from the bodies.
Jason Brickhill, for the Legal Resources Centre, asked Naidoo to explain why police officers who were "suspects" in the shooting had been allowed to work on the crime scene management.
"What I want to put to you is that the group of K9 members who discharged firearms at scene 2, including you, was under your command," said Brickhill.
"The officers that fired the shots constitute, in theory, potential suspects in relation to the deaths that took place at scene 2."
Naidoo said he did not agree.
"When a member responds to a crime scene and shoots a suspect in trying to arrest him, there are responsibilities allocated to him in terms of what the officer discovers there," he said.
"If we are saying a member involved in this (shooting) should step outside the scene and wait for someone to arrive, that is impractical. We were not having an ideal situation there."
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
President Jacob Zuma established the inquiry shortly after the shootings.
The public hearings continue.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/ks/lp
Date : 13 Mar 2014 15:44
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MARIKANA MR X A MURDERER: LAWYER
An SA Police Service (SAPS) protected witness, identified as Mr X, is a murderer, liar and habitual criminal, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
Dali Mpofu, for the arrested and injured miners, opposed a special arrangement sought by the police to have Mr X testify from a remote location, through a video link.
"He is a multiple murderer and a self-confessed habitual criminal, having at least three murders under his belt. We have not been told what the deal is [between the police and the witness]," said Mpofu.
"Has this habitual criminal been charged, has he been promised immunity? Is he exchanging his so-called safety for frying other people falsely? Is he staying in some posh hotel so that he can come and lie?"
The man identified as Mr X was apparently part of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent a ritual that includes two sangomas, the burning of live sheep and swallowing the ashes on August 11, 2012.
In Mr X's sworn statement, seen by Sapa, he details how the belligerent miners attacked and killed Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani.
Hassan's body parts were removed and taken together with Mabelani's ashes for further muti rituals, according to Mr X.
He details how the sangomas cut Fundi's parts into smaller pieces and mixed with blood and burnt to ashes.
"We were instructed by the inyangas [traditional healers] to stand in a line and the ashes were put in our mouth using a spoon which we licked and swallowed," Mr X wrote in his affidavit.
"After this, the inyangas told us that they had accomplished their mission in protecting us from police bullets, made us fearless, strong and invisible to the police."
Mr X also narrates how he, with other protesters, attacked and killed some police officers on August 13. He said they also robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Sesi Baloyi, for the police, brought the application, requesting the Farlam-led inquiry to give an order that Mr X should testify in-camera from a remote location.
Baloyi said Mr X's name would be disclosed only to the commissioners of inquiry, and lawyers for the wounded and arrested miners, but they could not disclose his identity to anyone.
She said it was inherent for the commission to exclude certain members of the public from the inquiry while someone testified.
When Mr X testified, the police wanted only the commissioners, lawyers, and accredited media to be present in the auditorium.
Mpofu said once he received Mr X's picture, he would share it with his clients.
"The commission cannot be asked to grant an order whose practical effectiveness is doubtful. As soon as Mr [Dumisa] Ntsebeza gives me the photo, I am going to share it with them, all 300 of them," said Mpofu.
"Mr X says the whole crowd intended to attack the police, it's so far-fetched that it borders on being ludicrous. All those people, 3000 people [at the koppie] have a right to refute what is being said about them."
Mpofu said it was beyond the authority of Farlam to instruct that Mr X testify from a remote location far from the auditorium in Centurion.
"SAPS is entitled to protect its witnesses ... they have the methods to meet those dangers. They can provide him with security, we won't quarrel if he is brought here surrounded by hundred people -- that is SAPS' problem," said Mpofu.
"He must be sitting in that chair (in the auditorium) like anybody else."
Evidence leader Kameshni Pillay supported the application to have Mr X testify in-camera through a video link.
"On a factual basis, having regard to all the factors, it has been shown to be reasonably necessary for Mr X to testify in-camera and via the video link," she said.
She said the life of Mr X and his family would be in danger if the commission demanded that he travel to testify daily at the public hearings in Centurion.
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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
The public hearings resume on Tuesday.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/lp/aw
Date : 17 Mar 2014 16:54
An SA Police Service (SAPS) protected witness, identified as Mr X, is a murderer, liar and habitual criminal, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
Dali Mpofu, for the arrested and injured miners, opposed a special arrangement sought by the police to have Mr X testify from a remote location, through a video link.
"He is a multiple murderer and a self-confessed habitual criminal, having at least three murders under his belt. We have not been told what the deal is [between the police and the witness]," said Mpofu.
"Has this habitual criminal been charged, has he been promised immunity? Is he exchanging his so-called safety for frying other people falsely? Is he staying in some posh hotel so that he can come and lie?"
The man identified as Mr X was apparently part of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent a ritual that includes two sangomas, the burning of live sheep and swallowing the ashes on August 11, 2012.
In Mr X's sworn statement, seen by Sapa, he details how the belligerent miners attacked and killed Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani.
Hassan's body parts were removed and taken together with Mabelani's ashes for further muti rituals, according to Mr X.
He details how the sangomas cut Fundi's parts into smaller pieces and mixed with blood and burnt to ashes.
"We were instructed by the inyangas [traditional healers] to stand in a line and the ashes were put in our mouth using a spoon which we licked and swallowed," Mr X wrote in his affidavit.
"After this, the inyangas told us that they had accomplished their mission in protecting us from police bullets, made us fearless, strong and invisible to the police."
Mr X also narrates how he, with other protesters, attacked and killed some police officers on August 13. He said they also robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Sesi Baloyi, for the police, brought the application, requesting the Farlam-led inquiry to give an order that Mr X should testify in-camera from a remote location.
Baloyi said Mr X's name would be disclosed only to the commissioners of inquiry, and lawyers for the wounded and arrested miners, but they could not disclose his identity to anyone.
She said it was inherent for the commission to exclude certain members of the public from the inquiry while someone testified.
When Mr X testified, the police wanted only the commissioners, lawyers, and accredited media to be present in the auditorium.
Mpofu said once he received Mr X's picture, he would share it with his clients.
"The commission cannot be asked to grant an order whose practical effectiveness is doubtful. As soon as Mr [Dumisa] Ntsebeza gives me the photo, I am going to share it with them, all 300 of them," said Mpofu.
"Mr X says the whole crowd intended to attack the police, it's so far-fetched that it borders on being ludicrous. All those people, 3000 people [at the koppie] have a right to refute what is being said about them."
Mpofu said it was beyond the authority of Farlam to instruct that Mr X testify from a remote location far from the auditorium in Centurion.
"SAPS is entitled to protect its witnesses ... they have the methods to meet those dangers. They can provide him with security, we won't quarrel if he is brought here surrounded by hundred people -- that is SAPS' problem," said Mpofu.
"He must be sitting in that chair (in the auditorium) like anybody else."
Evidence leader Kameshni Pillay supported the application to have Mr X testify in-camera through a video link.
"On a factual basis, having regard to all the factors, it has been shown to be reasonably necessary for Mr X to testify in-camera and via the video link," she said.
She said the life of Mr X and his family would be in danger if the commission demanded that he travel to testify daily at the public hearings in Centurion.
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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
The public hearings resume on Tuesday.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/lp/aw
Date : 17 Mar 2014 16:54
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 47,031
Mpofu is a monumental prat. He glorifies the protesters at every opportunity, but ignores the 10 people they murdered in the run-up.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MPEMBE 'LOST CONTROL' OF MARIKANA OFFICERS: VERMAAK
North West deputy provincial police chief William Mpembe was overcome by emotion and lost control after two policemen were killed at Marikana on August 13, 2012, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
"He arrived at the scene [where officers had been hacked to heath], he was in a state of shock," Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak told the public hearings in Pretoria.
He explained Mpembe's reaction after the two officers were killed following a confrontation with protesting Lonmin miners.
"To me it was clear that at that stage that he [Mpembe] had actually lost control over the members. All the members were just standing around and there was no definite person who was in control of the group."
"He ran to me and said his policemen had been killed. I tried to calm him down," said Vermaak.
"He was totally in a shocked state. He was running between the members saying 'my policemen have been killed, my policemen have been killed'," said Vermaak.
Vermaak said he later removed Mpembe from the scene because of a death threat. Officers were threatening to kill Mpembe to avenge the death of their two colleagues.
Three days later, on August 16, 2012, police shot and killed 34, mostly protesting miners, at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on the group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SA Police Service lawyers at the commission.
Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
In January, evidence submitted to the inquiry showed that Vermaak lashed out, criticising the police's handling of the Marikana strike.
Vermaak wrote a memo to provincial commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo outlining numerous flaws in the police intervention management of the strike.
The correspondence titled "Unrest: Marikana and Rustenburg: 2012", was also copied to North West provincial head of operational response services.
On the Marikana intervention, Vermaak made a long list of "shortcomings" by the police.
"Senior officers do planning without any experience in serious incidents and this causes that [the SAPS] afterwards [must] explain their actions.
"Marikana is a very good example where senior management was warned before specific actions [were] taken but they did not give attention to the advice.
"This type of ignorance put the national and provincial commissioners in a very difficult situation. Officers and members do planning without knowledge of the Gatherings Act," wrote Vermaak.
He questioned the training of the police officers who were deployed to manage the crowds of protesting miners.
"Members are not properly trained at training institutions, some of the instructors were never exposed to any of the incidents which he must lecture. There is a big difference between book knowledge and experience on the ground," wrote Vermaak.
He said members of the public order policing unit (POP) used to be issued with video equipment and adequately trained in the use thereof, so as to have credible evidence when required.
"POP doesn't have this capacity anymore. Some of the video footage that was taken during Marikana incidents did not have any value. I never saw a commander anymore with a voice recorder when he negotiates with [protest] leaders, for reference purposes afterwards."
Vermaak also questioned the police officers' capabilities to operate State equipment, particularly vehicles.
"Members with code EC (10) were given the Nyala keys during this period [Marikana unrest] and had never had any training to operate a Nyala and that causes a lot of expenditure that was not budgeted for.
"The availability of information [intelligence] before incidents does not exist anymore. In the past, there was an information office at each unit and they managed their own informers, some were attending courses to handle the informers," wrote Vermaak.
On Monday, some of the miners' widows were dressed in branded in red Economic Freedom Fighters T-shirts.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp
Date : 24 Mar 2014 15:03
North West deputy provincial police chief William Mpembe was overcome by emotion and lost control after two policemen were killed at Marikana on August 13, 2012, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
"He arrived at the scene [where officers had been hacked to heath], he was in a state of shock," Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak told the public hearings in Pretoria.
He explained Mpembe's reaction after the two officers were killed following a confrontation with protesting Lonmin miners.
"To me it was clear that at that stage that he [Mpembe] had actually lost control over the members. All the members were just standing around and there was no definite person who was in control of the group."
"He ran to me and said his policemen had been killed. I tried to calm him down," said Vermaak.
"He was totally in a shocked state. He was running between the members saying 'my policemen have been killed, my policemen have been killed'," said Vermaak.
Vermaak said he later removed Mpembe from the scene because of a death threat. Officers were threatening to kill Mpembe to avenge the death of their two colleagues.
Three days later, on August 16, 2012, police shot and killed 34, mostly protesting miners, at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on the group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SA Police Service lawyers at the commission.
Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
In January, evidence submitted to the inquiry showed that Vermaak lashed out, criticising the police's handling of the Marikana strike.
Vermaak wrote a memo to provincial commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo outlining numerous flaws in the police intervention management of the strike.
The correspondence titled "Unrest: Marikana and Rustenburg: 2012", was also copied to North West provincial head of operational response services.
On the Marikana intervention, Vermaak made a long list of "shortcomings" by the police.
"Senior officers do planning without any experience in serious incidents and this causes that [the SAPS] afterwards [must] explain their actions.
"Marikana is a very good example where senior management was warned before specific actions [were] taken but they did not give attention to the advice.
"This type of ignorance put the national and provincial commissioners in a very difficult situation. Officers and members do planning without knowledge of the Gatherings Act," wrote Vermaak.
He questioned the training of the police officers who were deployed to manage the crowds of protesting miners.
"Members are not properly trained at training institutions, some of the instructors were never exposed to any of the incidents which he must lecture. There is a big difference between book knowledge and experience on the ground," wrote Vermaak.
He said members of the public order policing unit (POP) used to be issued with video equipment and adequately trained in the use thereof, so as to have credible evidence when required.
"POP doesn't have this capacity anymore. Some of the video footage that was taken during Marikana incidents did not have any value. I never saw a commander anymore with a voice recorder when he negotiates with [protest] leaders, for reference purposes afterwards."
Vermaak also questioned the police officers' capabilities to operate State equipment, particularly vehicles.
"Members with code EC (10) were given the Nyala keys during this period [Marikana unrest] and had never had any training to operate a Nyala and that causes a lot of expenditure that was not budgeted for.
"The availability of information [intelligence] before incidents does not exist anymore. In the past, there was an information office at each unit and they managed their own informers, some were attending courses to handle the informers," wrote Vermaak.
On Monday, some of the miners' widows were dressed in branded in red Economic Freedom Fighters T-shirts.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp
Date : 24 Mar 2014 15:03
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
I WON'T BE MARIKANA FALL GUY: COP
The police wanted North West air wing commander Salmon Vermaak to take the blame for the deaths of Marikana miners, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
The senior policeman was testifying at the public hearings of the inquiry in Centurion, south of Pretoria.
"In a consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to me that I am going to carry the responsibility for the people that were killed at koppie three," he said.
"I realised that I should note everything down in my diary regarding meetings and discussions we were having (regarding Marikana incidents)."
Vermaak said he made it clear to the police legal team, national commissioner Riah Phiyega and the provincial commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would only stick to the facts.
He said he kept "clear records" of the moves by the SA Police Service to place Marikana blame at his doorstep.
Speaking in Afrikaans, Vermaak said he was disappointed by his superiors' stance.
"I was disappointed that all of a sudden a finger was being pointed at me, with all my years of public order policing. I was being directly held responsible for the death of these people," said Vermaak.
"Where do they base the allegations against me? It is not acceptable. Did they give me any other briefing about any other plan that was going to be implemented (on August 16, 2012)?"
He said the only intervention plan he knew prior to the bloody August 16, 2012 confrontation only involved encircling the thousands of protesters gathered at a hill in Marikana.
Vermaak also told the commission that he received a call from Brigadier Adriaan Calitz, North West provincial head of operational response services, on January 9.
Regarding the conversation, Vermaak said Calitz told him that he (Vermaak) would be the one to take the fall for the Marikana shootings, particularly at koppie three.
"I told him that I was going to stick to the truth and nothing else. If there were mistakes made, I was going to admit them," Vermaak said.
"Blame was being apportioned to me, I made an entry in my diary."
Calitz was one of the operational commanders deployed at Marikana. He has previously testified at the Farlam inquiry.
Vermaak broke ranks with his employer when he started testifying at the inquiry on Monday.
He cited numerous flaws within the SAPS intervention methods to manage a lengthy wage-related protest at Lonmin mine's Marikana plant.
"I have raised my concern with the manner in which this protest was handled. It could not be done in the ordinary manner like a service delivery protest," said Vermaak.
"It was clear to me that there wasn't much experience. The protests you get in the mines are more violent than the ordinary protests. They fight to their deaths."
He said that by August 16, 2012, it was known within the SAPS that the protesters had carried out certain rituals with sangomas and that the miners believed they were invincible before the August 16, 2012 fatal confrontation.
"These people were fearless. In the past it was believed that police or security officers' bullets would turn into water. The fact that they had advanced on police made it clear that they believed they had sangomas' protection."
Vermaak said armoured vehicles should have been used to protect police officers.
In the days leading up to August 16, he said he had cautioned Calitz that "a much more careful approach was needed" in dealing with the armed miners.
"He only sent me a message [saying] 'thank you', that's all," said Vermaak.
On August 16, 2012, police shot and killed 34, mostly protesting miners, at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on the group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SAPS lawyers at the commission.
Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/ks/lp
Date : 25 Mar 2014 16:13
The police wanted North West air wing commander Salmon Vermaak to take the blame for the deaths of Marikana miners, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
The senior policeman was testifying at the public hearings of the inquiry in Centurion, south of Pretoria.
"In a consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to me that I am going to carry the responsibility for the people that were killed at koppie three," he said.
"I realised that I should note everything down in my diary regarding meetings and discussions we were having (regarding Marikana incidents)."
Vermaak said he made it clear to the police legal team, national commissioner Riah Phiyega and the provincial commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would only stick to the facts.
He said he kept "clear records" of the moves by the SA Police Service to place Marikana blame at his doorstep.
Speaking in Afrikaans, Vermaak said he was disappointed by his superiors' stance.
"I was disappointed that all of a sudden a finger was being pointed at me, with all my years of public order policing. I was being directly held responsible for the death of these people," said Vermaak.
"Where do they base the allegations against me? It is not acceptable. Did they give me any other briefing about any other plan that was going to be implemented (on August 16, 2012)?"
He said the only intervention plan he knew prior to the bloody August 16, 2012 confrontation only involved encircling the thousands of protesters gathered at a hill in Marikana.
Vermaak also told the commission that he received a call from Brigadier Adriaan Calitz, North West provincial head of operational response services, on January 9.
Regarding the conversation, Vermaak said Calitz told him that he (Vermaak) would be the one to take the fall for the Marikana shootings, particularly at koppie three.
"I told him that I was going to stick to the truth and nothing else. If there were mistakes made, I was going to admit them," Vermaak said.
"Blame was being apportioned to me, I made an entry in my diary."
Calitz was one of the operational commanders deployed at Marikana. He has previously testified at the Farlam inquiry.
Vermaak broke ranks with his employer when he started testifying at the inquiry on Monday.
He cited numerous flaws within the SAPS intervention methods to manage a lengthy wage-related protest at Lonmin mine's Marikana plant.
"I have raised my concern with the manner in which this protest was handled. It could not be done in the ordinary manner like a service delivery protest," said Vermaak.
"It was clear to me that there wasn't much experience. The protests you get in the mines are more violent than the ordinary protests. They fight to their deaths."
He said that by August 16, 2012, it was known within the SAPS that the protesters had carried out certain rituals with sangomas and that the miners believed they were invincible before the August 16, 2012 fatal confrontation.
"These people were fearless. In the past it was believed that police or security officers' bullets would turn into water. The fact that they had advanced on police made it clear that they believed they had sangomas' protection."
Vermaak said armoured vehicles should have been used to protect police officers.
In the days leading up to August 16, he said he had cautioned Calitz that "a much more careful approach was needed" in dealing with the armed miners.
"He only sent me a message [saying] 'thank you', that's all," said Vermaak.
On August 16, 2012, police shot and killed 34, mostly protesting miners, at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on the group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SAPS lawyers at the commission.
Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/ks/lp
Date : 25 Mar 2014 16:13
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
COP VERSUS COPS OVER MARIKANA
Police commanders at the Marikana labour unrest in August 2012 were not experienced in crowd management and unrest scenarios, North West police air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said on Wednesday.
"Of the people that I know, it is [Lt-Col Joseph] Merafe... he was the most experienced person in the public order policing unit and Brigadier Adriaan Calitz," Vermaak told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
"Other people from Pretoria that I met, I believe they had never been exposed to the experiences in the mines," said Vermaak.
He was led in giving evidence at the commission by evidence leader Kameshni Pillay.
Vermaak was asked to explain whether his questioning of the police officers' experience also extended to North West deputy provincial commissioner William Mpembe, who was overall operational commander during the unrest at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
He responded: "During my time as commander of the public order policing unit he was never involved at any time in any incident where we were dealing with unrest in mines.
"Whether he was involved in mines unrest after I left, I would not be able to respond to that."
Vermaak said the commanders of the elite tactical response unit deployed at Marikana in the days leading up to the August 16, 2012, mass shooting were also inexperienced in public order policing which specialised in crowd management.
"The commanders are people who have never been involved in such violence," he said.
Vermaak said it was peculiar that the special task force's Lt-Col Duncan Scott was assigned to draw up the intervention plan which inadvertently resulted in the August 16 shootings.
"It was strange to me that somebody from the task force was brought in to draw a plan for an incident that has public unrest," he said.
The police strategy implemented prior to the August 16 shootings was referred to by police officers as the "Scott plan".
On Tuesday Vermaak told the inquiry the SA Police Service wanted him to take the blame for the deaths of the Marikana miners.
"In a consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to me that I am going to carry the responsibility for the people that were killed at koppie three," he said.
"I realised that I should note everything down in my diary regarding meetings and discussions we were having [regarding Marikana incidents]."
Vermaak said he made it clear to the police legal team, national commissioner Riah Phiyega, and North West commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would stick only to the facts.
Speaking in Afrikaans, Vermaak said he was disappointed by his superiors' stance.
"I was disappointed that all of a sudden a finger was being pointed at me, with all my years of public order policing. I was being directly held responsible for the death of these people," said Vermaak.
"Where do they base the allegations against me? It is not acceptable. Did they give me any other briefing about any other plan that was going to be implemented?"
He cited numerous flaws within the SAPS intervention methods to manage a lengthy wage-related protest at the Lonmin mine.
On August 16, 2012, police shot dead 34, mostly protesting miners, at the mine.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SAPS lawyers at the commission. Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp/ks
Date : 26 Mar 2014 11:45
Police commanders at the Marikana labour unrest in August 2012 were not experienced in crowd management and unrest scenarios, North West police air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said on Wednesday.
"Of the people that I know, it is [Lt-Col Joseph] Merafe... he was the most experienced person in the public order policing unit and Brigadier Adriaan Calitz," Vermaak told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
"Other people from Pretoria that I met, I believe they had never been exposed to the experiences in the mines," said Vermaak.
He was led in giving evidence at the commission by evidence leader Kameshni Pillay.
Vermaak was asked to explain whether his questioning of the police officers' experience also extended to North West deputy provincial commissioner William Mpembe, who was overall operational commander during the unrest at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West.
He responded: "During my time as commander of the public order policing unit he was never involved at any time in any incident where we were dealing with unrest in mines.
"Whether he was involved in mines unrest after I left, I would not be able to respond to that."
Vermaak said the commanders of the elite tactical response unit deployed at Marikana in the days leading up to the August 16, 2012, mass shooting were also inexperienced in public order policing which specialised in crowd management.
"The commanders are people who have never been involved in such violence," he said.
Vermaak said it was peculiar that the special task force's Lt-Col Duncan Scott was assigned to draw up the intervention plan which inadvertently resulted in the August 16 shootings.
"It was strange to me that somebody from the task force was brought in to draw a plan for an incident that has public unrest," he said.
The police strategy implemented prior to the August 16 shootings was referred to by police officers as the "Scott plan".
On Tuesday Vermaak told the inquiry the SA Police Service wanted him to take the blame for the deaths of the Marikana miners.
"In a consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to me that I am going to carry the responsibility for the people that were killed at koppie three," he said.
"I realised that I should note everything down in my diary regarding meetings and discussions we were having [regarding Marikana incidents]."
Vermaak said he made it clear to the police legal team, national commissioner Riah Phiyega, and North West commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would stick only to the facts.
Speaking in Afrikaans, Vermaak said he was disappointed by his superiors' stance.
"I was disappointed that all of a sudden a finger was being pointed at me, with all my years of public order policing. I was being directly held responsible for the death of these people," said Vermaak.
"Where do they base the allegations against me? It is not acceptable. Did they give me any other briefing about any other plan that was going to be implemented?"
He cited numerous flaws within the SAPS intervention methods to manage a lengthy wage-related protest at the Lonmin mine.
On August 16, 2012, police shot dead 34, mostly protesting miners, at the mine.
At least 78 miners were also wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the 44 deaths.
Unlike all other police officers who have testified at the inquiry, Vermaak is being led in giving his testimony by evidence leaders.
Other police officers have been led by SAPS lawyers at the commission. Vermaak will be cross-examined by the police lawyers.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp/ks
Date : 26 Mar 2014 11:45
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
'I WILL EXPOSE MARIKANA'S MR X': MPOFU
Photographs and details of a protected Marikana witness, dubbed Mr X, will be widely distributed among mineworkers, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
Dali Mpofu SC, for arrested and wounded miners, said the SA Police Service (SAPS) would have to show that the widows of slain miners and survivors were a threat to Mr X.
"They have to show that the presence of the parties [the widows, miners and the public] is going to endanger the safety, security or life of Mr X. They are unable to show that," Mpofu said.
"They want to exclude the widows of the slain miners, what possible threat to Mr X's safety can these widows pose? What are they going to do to him?"
Police submitted an application to the inquiry last month for Mr X to testify in-camera, from a remote location through a video link.
Sesi Baloyi, for the police, said Mr X was under witness protection and his life would be grave danger if his identity was revealed or published.
SAPS wanted only the commissioners, lawyers, and accredited media present in the auditorium when Mr X testified.
The police wanted the widows, public, and miners prevented from attending the hearings when Mr X gave evidence on a date to be decided.
On Tuesday, Mpofu said the SAPS application was laced with absurdity.
"Let us assume, for argument's sake that some among the [Marikana] survivors habour some ill feelings against Mr X. One has to ensure that these people, by being prevented from being here will be prevented from knowing the identity of Mr X."
This was clearly not viable, Mpofu said.
"As soon as I get the identity and photographs of Mr X I have a duty to tell them all the things, including which shaft he works in. He will still face the exact same risk whether they are here or not."
Mpofu said other witnesses, including North West Air Wing Commander Salmon Vermaak, "took chances" by testifying in the public hearings.
The man identified as Mr X was apparently part of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent a ritual that included two sangomas, the burning of live sheep, and swallowing the ashes on August 11, 2012.
Mpofu has previously referred to Mr X as "a multiple murderer and a self-confessed habitual criminal, having at least three murders under his belt".
The inquiry led by retired judge Ian Farlam 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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/jk/lp
Date : 01 Apr 2014 12:45
Photographs and details of a protected Marikana witness, dubbed Mr X, will be widely distributed among mineworkers, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
Dali Mpofu SC, for arrested and wounded miners, said the SA Police Service (SAPS) would have to show that the widows of slain miners and survivors were a threat to Mr X.
"They have to show that the presence of the parties [the widows, miners and the public] is going to endanger the safety, security or life of Mr X. They are unable to show that," Mpofu said.
"They want to exclude the widows of the slain miners, what possible threat to Mr X's safety can these widows pose? What are they going to do to him?"
Police submitted an application to the inquiry last month for Mr X to testify in-camera, from a remote location through a video link.
Sesi Baloyi, for the police, said Mr X was under witness protection and his life would be grave danger if his identity was revealed or published.
SAPS wanted only the commissioners, lawyers, and accredited media present in the auditorium when Mr X testified.
The police wanted the widows, public, and miners prevented from attending the hearings when Mr X gave evidence on a date to be decided.
On Tuesday, Mpofu said the SAPS application was laced with absurdity.
"Let us assume, for argument's sake that some among the [Marikana] survivors habour some ill feelings against Mr X. One has to ensure that these people, by being prevented from being here will be prevented from knowing the identity of Mr X."
This was clearly not viable, Mpofu said.
"As soon as I get the identity and photographs of Mr X I have a duty to tell them all the things, including which shaft he works in. He will still face the exact same risk whether they are here or not."
Mpofu said other witnesses, including North West Air Wing Commander Salmon Vermaak, "took chances" by testifying in the public hearings.
The man identified as Mr X was apparently part of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent a ritual that included two sangomas, the burning of live sheep, and swallowing the ashes on August 11, 2012.
Mpofu has previously referred to Mr X as "a multiple murderer and a self-confessed habitual criminal, having at least three murders under his belt".
The inquiry led by retired judge Ian Farlam 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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/jk/lp
Date : 01 Apr 2014 12:45
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2006
- Messages
- 113,505
For Dali its not..
He's still working towards his big pay day..... I despise this cretin, he is wasting our time and money....
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
SAPS POOR PLANNING CAUSED MARIKANA: COP
Dubious decision-making, planning, and briefing of police officers led to the August 2012 Marikana shootings, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
North West police air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said he agreed with international public order policing expert Gary White's criticism of the SA Police Service.
Vermaak was being cross-examined by Michelle le Roux, for the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), at the commission's public hearings in Pretoria.
"Mr White states that 'I do not accept that the Marikana tragedy occurred because the police were not issued with correct equipment but instead it occurred because of poor planning, briefing, and poor decision-making'," Le Roux said.
She asked him whether he agreed with White's conclusion. He replied that essential equipment was at the Marikana police officers' disposal.
"I agree with him that there was poor planning and information," said Vermaak.
"Equipment was available, but it was up to the right people to use the right equipment." White submitted an affidavit to the inquiry, at the request of the SAHRC, exploring the August 2012 shootings at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
The three-member commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the deaths of 44 people during labour-related unrest at the mine.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while attempting to disperse and disarm them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Last month, Vermaak told the inquiry that police commanders deployed at the mine were not experienced in dealing with crowds and unrest.
"Of the people that I know, it is [Lt-Col Joseph] Merafe... he was the most experienced person in the public order policing unit and Brigadier Adriaan Calitz," Vermaak said.
"Other people [police officers] from Pretoria that I met, I believe they had never been exposed to the experiences in the mines."
Source : Sapa /jk/lp/th
Date : 03 Apr 2014 13:08
Dubious decision-making, planning, and briefing of police officers led to the August 2012 Marikana shootings, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
North West police air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said he agreed with international public order policing expert Gary White's criticism of the SA Police Service.
Vermaak was being cross-examined by Michelle le Roux, for the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), at the commission's public hearings in Pretoria.
"Mr White states that 'I do not accept that the Marikana tragedy occurred because the police were not issued with correct equipment but instead it occurred because of poor planning, briefing, and poor decision-making'," Le Roux said.
She asked him whether he agreed with White's conclusion. He replied that essential equipment was at the Marikana police officers' disposal.
"I agree with him that there was poor planning and information," said Vermaak.
"Equipment was available, but it was up to the right people to use the right equipment." White submitted an affidavit to the inquiry, at the request of the SAHRC, exploring the August 2012 shootings at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
The three-member commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is probing the deaths of 44 people during labour-related unrest at the mine.
On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while attempting to disperse and disarm them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Last month, Vermaak told the inquiry that police commanders deployed at the mine were not experienced in dealing with crowds and unrest.
"Of the people that I know, it is [Lt-Col Joseph] Merafe... he was the most experienced person in the public order policing unit and Brigadier Adriaan Calitz," Vermaak said.
"Other people [police officers] from Pretoria that I met, I believe they had never been exposed to the experiences in the mines."
Source : Sapa /jk/lp/th
Date : 03 Apr 2014 13:08
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MARIKANA POLICE PLAN UNDER FIRE
A police plan to curb violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana should have been put into practice differently, North West police officer Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said on Wednesday.
"I believe that if myself or Brigadier [Adriaan] Calitz was in charge of that [August 2012] operation we would have only used public order policing members," he said.
Vermaak was being cross-examined by Anthony Gotz, for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), in the public hearings of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
Gotz asked the senior policeman to explain whether the introduction of the police "paramilitary units" at the mine unrest was problematic.
Vermaak responded: "I cannot comment on why they took the decision to deploy the TRT [tactical response unit] and STF [special task force].
"With the information that had been given, with regard to experience of mines unrest, and also considering that these people would not hand over their traditional weapons, there should not have been a plan B."
He said the protesters had made it clear to the police that they would not voluntarily disarm and approaching them would only result in a confrontation.
"Myself, I would not try to approach the people on the koppie [hill], especially after the experiences of Monday [August 13, 2012], where it became clear they were not going to hand over the weapons," Vermaak said.
"If you take that information into consideration, I believe that there was another approach that could have been used."
Vermaak had 16 years experience as a commander in the POP unit before becoming North West provincial airwing commander -- a position he holds now.
Last month, Vermaak told the inquiry police commanders at Marikana, during the violent strike-related unrest were not experienced in crowd management and unrest scenarios.
Two police officers -- Warrant Officers Sello Leepaku and Tsietsi Monene -- were hacked to death on August 13, 2012 in a confrontation between the protesting miners and police near a railway line at Marikana. Three miners were killed.
Three days later, on August 16, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while allegedly trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/jk
Date : 09 Apr 2014 12:19
A police plan to curb violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana should have been put into practice differently, North West police officer Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak said on Wednesday.
"I believe that if myself or Brigadier [Adriaan] Calitz was in charge of that [August 2012] operation we would have only used public order policing members," he said.
Vermaak was being cross-examined by Anthony Gotz, for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), in the public hearings of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
Gotz asked the senior policeman to explain whether the introduction of the police "paramilitary units" at the mine unrest was problematic.
Vermaak responded: "I cannot comment on why they took the decision to deploy the TRT [tactical response unit] and STF [special task force].
"With the information that had been given, with regard to experience of mines unrest, and also considering that these people would not hand over their traditional weapons, there should not have been a plan B."
He said the protesters had made it clear to the police that they would not voluntarily disarm and approaching them would only result in a confrontation.
"Myself, I would not try to approach the people on the koppie [hill], especially after the experiences of Monday [August 13, 2012], where it became clear they were not going to hand over the weapons," Vermaak said.
"If you take that information into consideration, I believe that there was another approach that could have been used."
Vermaak had 16 years experience as a commander in the POP unit before becoming North West provincial airwing commander -- a position he holds now.
Last month, Vermaak told the inquiry police commanders at Marikana, during the violent strike-related unrest were not experienced in crowd management and unrest scenarios.
Two police officers -- Warrant Officers Sello Leepaku and Tsietsi Monene -- were hacked to death on August 13, 2012 in a confrontation between the protesting miners and police near a railway line at Marikana. Three miners were killed.
Three days later, on August 16, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while allegedly trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is probing the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/hdw/jk
Date : 09 Apr 2014 12:19
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
TOP COPS CLASH OVER MARIKANA EVIDENCE
Several assertions by North West air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak regarding the public order police unit (POP) were queried at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Monday.
North West POP commander Lt-Col Joseph Merafe said his charges were proficient with the legislation governing the use of firearms, gatherings and general criminal procedure precepts.
"The commanders are vastly experienced people. I know that some of them have led many operations and they did not fail us," said Merafe.
"I do not know which commanders he (Vermaak) was referring to. Our members know the legislation applicable in the operation including the new Dangerous Weapons Act, Firearms Control Act and the Gatherings Act."
Vermaak's critical letter, written at the end of 2012, contests several areas in the SA Police Service's handling of the strike at Lonmin Mine in Marikana, particularly in the POP.
The correspondence titled "Unrest: Marikana and Rustenburg 2012" was directed to North West police chief Zukiswa Mbombo but was forwarded to other senior police officers including Merafe.
On the Marikana intervention, Vermaak made a list of "shortcomings" by the police.
"Senior officers do planning without any experience in serious incidents and this causes that the SAPS afterwards must explain their actions.
"Marikana is a very good example where they were warned before specific actions were taken but they did not give attention to the advice.
"This type of ignorance puts the national and provincial commissioners in a very difficult situation. Officers and members do planning without knowledge of the Gatherings Act," wrote Vermaak.
He also questioned the training of the police officers who were deployed to manage the crowds of protesting miners.
On Monday, Merafe opposed Vermaak's sentiments.
"Any policeman in the POP unit has undergone basic public order police training and a course in crowd management," he said.
"In my unit, we have officers who go across South Africa and in other countries including Botswana training on POP. I don't think we would send people without the ability to train people in other countries."
Two police officers -- Warrant Officers Sello Leepaku and Tsietsi Monene -- were hacked to death on August 13, 2012 in a confrontation between the protesting miners and police near a railway line at Marikana. Three miners were also killed in the clash.
Three days later, on August 16, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while allegedly trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam was established by President Jacob Zuma to probe the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje/lp
Date : 14 Apr 2014 15:43
Several assertions by North West air wing commander Lt-Col Salmon Vermaak regarding the public order police unit (POP) were queried at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Monday.
North West POP commander Lt-Col Joseph Merafe said his charges were proficient with the legislation governing the use of firearms, gatherings and general criminal procedure precepts.
"The commanders are vastly experienced people. I know that some of them have led many operations and they did not fail us," said Merafe.
"I do not know which commanders he (Vermaak) was referring to. Our members know the legislation applicable in the operation including the new Dangerous Weapons Act, Firearms Control Act and the Gatherings Act."
Vermaak's critical letter, written at the end of 2012, contests several areas in the SA Police Service's handling of the strike at Lonmin Mine in Marikana, particularly in the POP.
The correspondence titled "Unrest: Marikana and Rustenburg 2012" was directed to North West police chief Zukiswa Mbombo but was forwarded to other senior police officers including Merafe.
On the Marikana intervention, Vermaak made a list of "shortcomings" by the police.
"Senior officers do planning without any experience in serious incidents and this causes that the SAPS afterwards must explain their actions.
"Marikana is a very good example where they were warned before specific actions were taken but they did not give attention to the advice.
"This type of ignorance puts the national and provincial commissioners in a very difficult situation. Officers and members do planning without knowledge of the Gatherings Act," wrote Vermaak.
He also questioned the training of the police officers who were deployed to manage the crowds of protesting miners.
On Monday, Merafe opposed Vermaak's sentiments.
"Any policeman in the POP unit has undergone basic public order police training and a course in crowd management," he said.
"In my unit, we have officers who go across South Africa and in other countries including Botswana training on POP. I don't think we would send people without the ability to train people in other countries."
Two police officers -- Warrant Officers Sello Leepaku and Tsietsi Monene -- were hacked to death on August 13, 2012 in a confrontation between the protesting miners and police near a railway line at Marikana. Three miners were also killed in the clash.
Three days later, on August 16, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while allegedly trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the strike-related violence.
The commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam was established by President Jacob Zuma to probe the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje/lp
Date : 14 Apr 2014 15:43
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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MARIKANA'S MR X TO TESTIFY IN CAMERA
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 August 11, 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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje
Date : 15 Apr 2014 13:37
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 August 11, 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 August 16, 2012 while trying to disarm and disperse them.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje
Date : 15 Apr 2014 13:37