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Marikana Shootings Farlam Commission Thread
I'm buying that muti works though. I cannot believe that our cops are so bad at shooting.
Sneeky
Honorary Master
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- May 5, 2004
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Indeed, Its the rabbit stuff forsho!
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
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- Apr 8, 2006
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Me, no.
I knew that they were guilty... but there are enough people out there that sympathise with them, and this testimony is changing some of their minds.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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MUTI WORKS: 'MR X'
Muti used by striking Marikana mineworkers in August 2012 was rendered ineffective because one of the strikers killed a hare, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
The secretive police witness, identified only as "Mr X", told the inquiry in Pretoria that the traditional healer who performed rituals with the strikers at Lonmin's platinum mine had laid stringent instructions for them to follow.
Mr X's testimony was led by police lawyer Tebogo Mathibedi, SC.
"Do you know why the muti was not effective? Do you still use muti and do you believe in the effectiveness thereof?" Mathibedi asked.
"We discovered later that someone killed a hare despite the instruction of the inyanga. We had been instructed not to kill any kind of animal," said Mr X.
"I still use muti and I follow the instructions strictly."
Mr X was testifying at the inquiry via video link from an undisclosed location.
He claims he was one of a group of striking Marikana miners who underwent rituals, which included two traditional healers burning live sheep, and swallowing their ashes on August 11, 2012.
His sworn statement to the inquiry details how the miners attacked and killed Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani. Some of Fundi's body parts were removed and taken along with Mabelani's ashes for use in muti rituals.
"We killed them at the bus stop. We burnt one in the car and we took pieces of flesh from the other one. That would make our muti strong, so that we go forward when we attack.
"The sangoma said we should bring the human parts," said Mr X.
Mr X also narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/th/jje
Date : 01 Jul 2014 10:33
Muti used by striking Marikana mineworkers in August 2012 was rendered ineffective because one of the strikers killed a hare, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
The secretive police witness, identified only as "Mr X", told the inquiry in Pretoria that the traditional healer who performed rituals with the strikers at Lonmin's platinum mine had laid stringent instructions for them to follow.
Mr X's testimony was led by police lawyer Tebogo Mathibedi, SC.
"Do you know why the muti was not effective? Do you still use muti and do you believe in the effectiveness thereof?" Mathibedi asked.
"We discovered later that someone killed a hare despite the instruction of the inyanga. We had been instructed not to kill any kind of animal," said Mr X.
"I still use muti and I follow the instructions strictly."
Mr X was testifying at the inquiry via video link from an undisclosed location.
He claims he was one of a group of striking Marikana miners who underwent rituals, which included two traditional healers burning live sheep, and swallowing their ashes on August 11, 2012.
His sworn statement to the inquiry details how the miners attacked and killed Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani. Some of Fundi's body parts were removed and taken along with Mabelani's ashes for use in muti rituals.
"We killed them at the bus stop. We burnt one in the car and we took pieces of flesh from the other one. That would make our muti strong, so that we go forward when we attack.
"The sangoma said we should bring the human parts," said Mr X.
Mr X also narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/th/jje
Date : 01 Jul 2014 10:33
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
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- Apr 8, 2006
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- 113,505
Savages...
Of course the fact that a human is also an animal will completely escape these idiots.
Of course the fact that a human is also an animal will completely escape these idiots.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
'MR X' QUIZZED ABOUT MATHUNJWA VISIT
A police witness, identified only as "Mr X", was confronted at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday regarding his evidence that Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa addressed Marikana strikers on August 14, 2012.
Evidence leader Geoff Budlender said contrary to Mr X's assertions, phone records indicated that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union leader was not at Marikana that day.
"You said Mr Mathunjwa, on the 14th of August, called Mr Nzuza to ask if he could come to Marikana. You said Mr Nzuza later called Mr Mathunjwa and told him that he should come to the koppie [hill]," said Budlender.
"Phone records show where he [Mathunjwa] was when he was receiving and making calls. He made and received no calls in Marikana or North West. To the contrary he was in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Witbank. Can you explain that?"
Budlender said a further analysis of Mathunjwa's phone records also revealed that he never called Xolani Nzuza, one of the protest leaders at Marikana.
Mr X responded: "I cannot explain it, except to say maybe Mr Mathunjwa was using someone's phone. Mr Mathunjwa arrived there. Pretoria and Johannesburg are not far from Marikana."
"The truth has not come forward yet. When people get arrested, they will say the truth. They are still playing," said Mr X.
Budlender asked whether it would be probable that Mathunjwa made calls while in Pretoria, then rushed to Marikana, returned back to Pretoria and made more calls.
"I do not have knowledge about the workings of his phone. What I know is that Mathunjwa was there at Marikana. Mr Mathunjwa has a car," he responded.
Budlender told the commission it had also been established that on August 15, 2012 Mathunjwa's phone was in the vicinity of the SABC in Pretoria. He was later interviewed by the national broadcaster.
Mr X may not be identified to protect his identity, and is testifying via video link from an undisclosed location.
Last week, Mr X testified that Mathunjwa went to the Marikana hill where the protesters were gathered at night on August 14, 2012.
"He said he was interested in the membership. Let's kill the National Union of Mineworkers so we can get what we are demanding," said Mr X.
He was referring to a conversation he said he overheard between Nzuza and Mathunjwa.
Mr X claims he was one of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent traditional rituals, which included two sangomas burning live sheep and swallowing their ashes on August 11, 2012.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mr X narrates how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/jje
Date : 01 Jul 2014 14:31
A police witness, identified only as "Mr X", was confronted at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday regarding his evidence that Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa addressed Marikana strikers on August 14, 2012.
Evidence leader Geoff Budlender said contrary to Mr X's assertions, phone records indicated that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union leader was not at Marikana that day.
"You said Mr Mathunjwa, on the 14th of August, called Mr Nzuza to ask if he could come to Marikana. You said Mr Nzuza later called Mr Mathunjwa and told him that he should come to the koppie [hill]," said Budlender.
"Phone records show where he [Mathunjwa] was when he was receiving and making calls. He made and received no calls in Marikana or North West. To the contrary he was in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Witbank. Can you explain that?"
Budlender said a further analysis of Mathunjwa's phone records also revealed that he never called Xolani Nzuza, one of the protest leaders at Marikana.
Mr X responded: "I cannot explain it, except to say maybe Mr Mathunjwa was using someone's phone. Mr Mathunjwa arrived there. Pretoria and Johannesburg are not far from Marikana."
"The truth has not come forward yet. When people get arrested, they will say the truth. They are still playing," said Mr X.
Budlender asked whether it would be probable that Mathunjwa made calls while in Pretoria, then rushed to Marikana, returned back to Pretoria and made more calls.
"I do not have knowledge about the workings of his phone. What I know is that Mathunjwa was there at Marikana. Mr Mathunjwa has a car," he responded.
Budlender told the commission it had also been established that on August 15, 2012 Mathunjwa's phone was in the vicinity of the SABC in Pretoria. He was later interviewed by the national broadcaster.
Mr X may not be identified to protect his identity, and is testifying via video link from an undisclosed location.
Last week, Mr X testified that Mathunjwa went to the Marikana hill where the protesters were gathered at night on August 14, 2012.
"He said he was interested in the membership. Let's kill the National Union of Mineworkers so we can get what we are demanding," said Mr X.
He was referring to a conversation he said he overheard between Nzuza and Mathunjwa.
Mr X claims he was one of the group of protesting Marikana miners who underwent traditional rituals, which included two sangomas burning live sheep and swallowing their ashes on August 11, 2012.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mr X narrates how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/jje
Date : 01 Jul 2014 14:31
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BATH: 'MR X'
Striking Marikana mineworkers were instructed not to bath for seven days after undergoing muti rituals, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
"From the 11th until the 16th of August [2012], after having used the muti, we were told not to bath. We were told to go for seven days without bathing," police witness, identified only as "Mr X", replied to cross-examination by evidence leader Geoff Budlender.
"Even now I am not changing the jacket I have been wearing ever since I started testifying. I do not bath, I only wipe certain parts."
Mr X, may not be named to protect his identity. He is testifying at the commission in Pretoria via video link from an undisclosed location.
He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and also participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it 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.
Mr X also narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Budlender argued that Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana.
The photographs were viewed on large screens at the commission's public hearings in Pretoria.
"I am not an expert in faces but that face [in the photograph] is very different from your face," said Budlender.
Mr X maintained it was he in the photograph.
Budlender said Mr X was neither in the photograph nor was he at the koppie (hill), where strikers gathered for meetings at Marikana, on August 13, 2012 as he had claimed.
"I don't think that is you in that photograph and I don't think you were there [at the koppie] on the 13th of August 2012. In February last year, you did not know what happened on the 13th," said Budlender.
Mr X drafted his statement in February 2013.
Due to the discrepancies, Mr X was asked to smile, to show his teeth to the commission.
He said he was a rock drill operator (RDO) at Lonmin and participated in the strike.
"I am an RDO. Go and ask Lonmin who was striking on that day for R12,500. Go and check what my position is at Lonmin," said Mr X.
Commission chairman retired judge Ian Farlam, said many RDOs were striking in August 2012.
"Evidence indicates that there were many RDOs that were on strike. On the 13th, only about 200 strikers were at the railway line. The fact that you were an RDO and the fact that you were on strike, that doesn't mean you were at the railway line," said Farlam.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/th/jje/jk
Date : 03 Jul 2014 12:13
Striking Marikana mineworkers were instructed not to bath for seven days after undergoing muti rituals, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
"From the 11th until the 16th of August [2012], after having used the muti, we were told not to bath. We were told to go for seven days without bathing," police witness, identified only as "Mr X", replied to cross-examination by evidence leader Geoff Budlender.
"Even now I am not changing the jacket I have been wearing ever since I started testifying. I do not bath, I only wipe certain parts."
Mr X, may not be named to protect his identity. He is testifying at the commission in Pretoria via video link from an undisclosed location.
He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and also participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it 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.
Mr X also narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Budlender argued that Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana.
The photographs were viewed on large screens at the commission's public hearings in Pretoria.
"I am not an expert in faces but that face [in the photograph] is very different from your face," said Budlender.
Mr X maintained it was he in the photograph.
Budlender said Mr X was neither in the photograph nor was he at the koppie (hill), where strikers gathered for meetings at Marikana, on August 13, 2012 as he had claimed.
"I don't think that is you in that photograph and I don't think you were there [at the koppie] on the 13th of August 2012. In February last year, you did not know what happened on the 13th," said Budlender.
Mr X drafted his statement in February 2013.
Due to the discrepancies, Mr X was asked to smile, to show his teeth to the commission.
He said he was a rock drill operator (RDO) at Lonmin and participated in the strike.
"I am an RDO. Go and ask Lonmin who was striking on that day for R12,500. Go and check what my position is at Lonmin," said Mr X.
Commission chairman retired judge Ian Farlam, said many RDOs were striking in August 2012.
"Evidence indicates that there were many RDOs that were on strike. On the 13th, only about 200 strikers were at the railway line. The fact that you were an RDO and the fact that you were on strike, that doesn't mean you were at the railway line," said Farlam.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/th/jje/jk
Date : 03 Jul 2014 12:13
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MR X 'MENTALLY EXHAUSTED'
Police witness, only identified as "Mr X", asked the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Thursday to give him a break.
"There is a funeral at my home. As black people, our culture is different from whites. In my culture when there is a death we mourn the deceased," he told the public hearings in Pretoria.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is testifying at the commission in Pretoria via video link from an undisclosed location.
"I am mentally exhausted, I need rest. May I please take a break?"
Commission chairman retired judge Ian Farlam adjourned the hearings.
Mr X made the request after 2pm, after cross-examination by head of evidence leaders Geoff Budlender.
"I want to put it to you that your claim that you were one of the five selected by protesters to represent them is false," Budlender told him.
"You have made that false statement in order to exaggerate your own importance. You may have been a foot soldier but you want to present yourself as a general."
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it 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.
Mr X narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Budlender argued Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana.
The photographs were viewed on large screens at the commission's hearings.
"I am not an expert in faces but that face is very different from your face," said Budlender, referring to the photo.
Mr X maintained it was him in the photograph.
Budlender said Mr X was neither in the photograph nor was he at the koppie (hill) where strikers gathered for meetings at Marikana, on August 13, 2012, as he had claimed.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently 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/th/jk/jje
Date : 03 Jul 2014 15:19
Police witness, only identified as "Mr X", asked the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Thursday to give him a break.
"There is a funeral at my home. As black people, our culture is different from whites. In my culture when there is a death we mourn the deceased," he told the public hearings in Pretoria.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is testifying at the commission in Pretoria via video link from an undisclosed location.
"I am mentally exhausted, I need rest. May I please take a break?"
Commission chairman retired judge Ian Farlam adjourned the hearings.
Mr X made the request after 2pm, after cross-examination by head of evidence leaders Geoff Budlender.
"I want to put it to you that your claim that you were one of the five selected by protesters to represent them is false," Budlender told him.
"You have made that false statement in order to exaggerate your own importance. You may have been a foot soldier but you want to present yourself as a general."
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it 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.
Mr X narrates in the affidavit how he and other protesters attacked and killed two police officers on August 13, 2012. He said they robbed the officers of their cellphones and service firearms.
Budlender argued Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana.
The photographs were viewed on large screens at the commission's hearings.
"I am not an expert in faces but that face is very different from your face," said Budlender, referring to the photo.
Mr X maintained it was him in the photograph.
Budlender said Mr X was neither in the photograph nor was he at the koppie (hill) where strikers gathered for meetings at Marikana, on August 13, 2012, as he had claimed.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently 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/th/jk/jje
Date : 03 Jul 2014 15:19
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MTHETHWA TESTIFIES AT MARIKANA
Former police minister Nathi Mthethwa is expected to explain the role of the SA Police Service during the Marikana strike, when testifying at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Monday.
Mthethwa's evidence pertains to his role in police interventions during the strike by Lonmin miners in the North West in August 2012.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mthethwa, who is now arts and culture minister, expressed sadness to families who lost members at Marikana, and South Africa in general.
"My conduct throughout the Marikana incident was underpinned by the principles of constitutional segregation of the role of the minister of police from that of the national commissioner of police," he said.
"I took steps to ensure that I was kept informed about the political developments as they unfolded at Marikana and the concerns raised with me relating thereto."
In March last year, Mthethwa's leadership role before and after the August 16 shootings were questioned at the inquiry when national police commissioner Riah Phiyega was cross-examined by then evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga SC.
Madlanga asked what specific support Mthethwa gave Phiyega at Marikana on August 16, when police shot dead 34 striking miners, apparently while trying to disperse and disarm them.
Phiyega said: "He gave us political support."
Madlanga responded: "Am I right to say you cannot be specific on the political direction, nor can you be specific on the political support you received from the police minister?"
Madlanga said Phiyega's evidence did not suggest any initiative by the minister.
"What, if anything, did the minister of police do about the killings at Marikana?" Madlanga asked.
Phiyega responded: "My minister was personally here. The minister was part of the inter-ministerial committee that did a lot of work in the commission... In his political role he gave us political support."
However, Madlanga said he wanted to know what the minister did prior to the August 16 killings.
Once again, Phiyega referred him to her statement, adding that Mthethwa gave her and her operational team support, though he was not involved in operations.
The commission heard it was necessary for Phiyega to inform Mthethwa about the "killing of human beings that are of an unusually high scale".
Phiyega said she kept Mthethwa informed in her "normal reporting" to him about what was happening at Marikana through phone calls and internal notices and statements.
Madlanga tried to establish whether Phiyega had called Mthethwa by midnight on August 13 about the five people killed at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana. She kept referring him to her statement.
Phiyega said: "In my statements I mentioned dates and I have said that I continuously gave updates to the minister."
Madlanga responded: "General, this is a simple question... Did you inform the minister by midnight on August 13 of the five killings?"
Speaking softly, Phiyega said: "I informed the minister on what happened at Marikana since the ninth. I can't remember if I called him at 12 midnight on August 13."
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on August 16, 2012.
More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
The commission is investigating the 44 deaths during the strike-related violence.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to testify at the inquiry later this month.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje/ar/th
Date : 14 Jul 2014 10:14
Former police minister Nathi Mthethwa is expected to explain the role of the SA Police Service during the Marikana strike, when testifying at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Monday.
Mthethwa's evidence pertains to his role in police interventions during the strike by Lonmin miners in the North West in August 2012.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mthethwa, who is now arts and culture minister, expressed sadness to families who lost members at Marikana, and South Africa in general.
"My conduct throughout the Marikana incident was underpinned by the principles of constitutional segregation of the role of the minister of police from that of the national commissioner of police," he said.
"I took steps to ensure that I was kept informed about the political developments as they unfolded at Marikana and the concerns raised with me relating thereto."
In March last year, Mthethwa's leadership role before and after the August 16 shootings were questioned at the inquiry when national police commissioner Riah Phiyega was cross-examined by then evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga SC.
Madlanga asked what specific support Mthethwa gave Phiyega at Marikana on August 16, when police shot dead 34 striking miners, apparently while trying to disperse and disarm them.
Phiyega said: "He gave us political support."
Madlanga responded: "Am I right to say you cannot be specific on the political direction, nor can you be specific on the political support you received from the police minister?"
Madlanga said Phiyega's evidence did not suggest any initiative by the minister.
"What, if anything, did the minister of police do about the killings at Marikana?" Madlanga asked.
Phiyega responded: "My minister was personally here. The minister was part of the inter-ministerial committee that did a lot of work in the commission... In his political role he gave us political support."
However, Madlanga said he wanted to know what the minister did prior to the August 16 killings.
Once again, Phiyega referred him to her statement, adding that Mthethwa gave her and her operational team support, though he was not involved in operations.
The commission heard it was necessary for Phiyega to inform Mthethwa about the "killing of human beings that are of an unusually high scale".
Phiyega said she kept Mthethwa informed in her "normal reporting" to him about what was happening at Marikana through phone calls and internal notices and statements.
Madlanga tried to establish whether Phiyega had called Mthethwa by midnight on August 13 about the five people killed at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana. She kept referring him to her statement.
Phiyega said: "In my statements I mentioned dates and I have said that I continuously gave updates to the minister."
Madlanga responded: "General, this is a simple question... Did you inform the minister by midnight on August 13 of the five killings?"
Speaking softly, Phiyega said: "I informed the minister on what happened at Marikana since the ninth. I can't remember if I called him at 12 midnight on August 13."
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on August 16, 2012.
More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
The commission is investigating the 44 deaths during the strike-related violence.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to testify at the inquiry later this month.
Source : Sapa /jm/jje/ar/th
Date : 14 Jul 2014 10:14
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MTHETHWA DENIES POLITICAL PRESSURE AT MARIKANA
Former police minister Nathi Mthethwa denied on Monday he was under political pressure to intervene in the deadly mining strike at Marikana in Rustenburg two years ago.
Mthethwa, now the minister of arts and culture, was led in submitting evidence before the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria by Lindi Nkosi-Thomas, for the police.
"Minister, did you or did you not bring undue political influence on the [police] operational team on how they should conduct themselves during the tragedy?" Nkosi-Thomas asked.
Mthethwa said he did not.
"I didn't, because that is not how I understand my mandate. The task of the minister is to ensure that policy is being implemented," he said.
"There would be no need for any pressure, except for oversight over police. People who do the job are asked to do the job."
Nkosi-Thomas asked if any person had applied political pressure on Mthethwa to act on the Marikana strike.
Mthethwa said no one had put him under pressure.
Nkosi-Thomas then moved to e-mail correspondence penned by people including then Lonmin chairman Roger Phillimore and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a Lonmin shareholder.
Mthethwa said he was not party to any of the e-mail conversations.
"The first point [from the e-mails] is that a cabinet meeting was to be held on August 15, 2012 at which you and Minister [Susan] Shabangu would be in attendance. At that meeting, Minister Shabangu was to brief the president [Jacob Zuma] and get you to act in a pointed way," said Nkosi-Thomas.
"The other thing that emerges from the e-mails is the characterisation of what was happening in Marikana. It had ceased to be a labour unrest situation and people had lost their lives."
Mthethwa said that on August 15, 2012, he was doing ministerial work in KwaZulu-Natal and did not attend a cabinet meeting. He said there was no cabinet meeting on that day.
He said no one had told him to act "in a pointed way" but some people were calling him, raising concern about what was happening at Marikana.
"Firstly, I spoke to the deputy president now, Mr Ramaphosa, who had called and left a message. He explained to me that the situation in Marikana was bad. He said he was concerned because people were dying and property was being damaged.
"He said as far as he could see there were no adequate police on the ground.
"A similar message had been left by Mr [Senzeni] Zokwana as president of the National Union of Mineworkers," said Mthethwa.
He said he had the telephone calls with Ramaphosa and Zokwana on August 12, 2012.
"I immediately contacted the [North West] provincial commissioner of police to ascertain the veracity of what I heard from the two gentlemen.
"The provincial commissioner confirmed that there was such a thing. I then wanted to understand what the police management was doing to deal with the situation, to prevent any damage," said Mthethwa.
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on August 16, 2012.
More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
The commission is investigating the 44 deaths during the strike-related violence.
Ramaphosa is set to testify at the inquiry later this month.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/ar/ks
Date : 14 Jul 2014 11:36
Former police minister Nathi Mthethwa denied on Monday he was under political pressure to intervene in the deadly mining strike at Marikana in Rustenburg two years ago.
Mthethwa, now the minister of arts and culture, was led in submitting evidence before the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria by Lindi Nkosi-Thomas, for the police.
"Minister, did you or did you not bring undue political influence on the [police] operational team on how they should conduct themselves during the tragedy?" Nkosi-Thomas asked.
Mthethwa said he did not.
"I didn't, because that is not how I understand my mandate. The task of the minister is to ensure that policy is being implemented," he said.
"There would be no need for any pressure, except for oversight over police. People who do the job are asked to do the job."
Nkosi-Thomas asked if any person had applied political pressure on Mthethwa to act on the Marikana strike.
Mthethwa said no one had put him under pressure.
Nkosi-Thomas then moved to e-mail correspondence penned by people including then Lonmin chairman Roger Phillimore and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a Lonmin shareholder.
Mthethwa said he was not party to any of the e-mail conversations.
"The first point [from the e-mails] is that a cabinet meeting was to be held on August 15, 2012 at which you and Minister [Susan] Shabangu would be in attendance. At that meeting, Minister Shabangu was to brief the president [Jacob Zuma] and get you to act in a pointed way," said Nkosi-Thomas.
"The other thing that emerges from the e-mails is the characterisation of what was happening in Marikana. It had ceased to be a labour unrest situation and people had lost their lives."
Mthethwa said that on August 15, 2012, he was doing ministerial work in KwaZulu-Natal and did not attend a cabinet meeting. He said there was no cabinet meeting on that day.
He said no one had told him to act "in a pointed way" but some people were calling him, raising concern about what was happening at Marikana.
"Firstly, I spoke to the deputy president now, Mr Ramaphosa, who had called and left a message. He explained to me that the situation in Marikana was bad. He said he was concerned because people were dying and property was being damaged.
"He said as far as he could see there were no adequate police on the ground.
"A similar message had been left by Mr [Senzeni] Zokwana as president of the National Union of Mineworkers," said Mthethwa.
He said he had the telephone calls with Ramaphosa and Zokwana on August 12, 2012.
"I immediately contacted the [North West] provincial commissioner of police to ascertain the veracity of what I heard from the two gentlemen.
"The provincial commissioner confirmed that there was such a thing. I then wanted to understand what the police management was doing to deal with the situation, to prevent any damage," said Mthethwa.
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on August 16, 2012.
More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations in Marikana, near Rustenburg.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
The commission is investigating the 44 deaths during the strike-related violence.
Ramaphosa is set to testify at the inquiry later this month.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/ar/ks
Date : 14 Jul 2014 11:36
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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MARIKANA WAS A TRAGEDY: MTHETHWA
The shootings and deaths at Marikana should not have happened in a democratic South Africa, former police minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Monday.
"Whatever happened there was not supposed to happen under democracy. Something terribly wrong took place there," he testified at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
"It was a tragedy visiting our democracy in the country. It was indeed a tragedy."
Mthethwa explained to the inquiry his "maximum force" and "fighting fire with fire" remarks.
He made the latter remark to a parliamentary select committee on security in November 2008 and the former during a newspaper interview in 2009.
"Approaching criminals armed to the teeth, ready to kill at the slightest or no provocation, and policing ordinary citizens are two different things. There is no need for police to be heavy-handed when dealing with ordinary people," said Mthethwa.
"Police have to defend themselves because there is fire out there. We went to areas to interact with members of the public. Ours is a caring government and there was no need to display something contrary to that as members of the South African police."
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, on August 16, 2012. More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mthethwa sought to dispel allegations of political influence.
"During the cross-examination of the (North West police) provincial commissioner (Zukiswa Mbombo), it was suggested that she allowed political considerations to influence her decisions. This is not true.
"As the political head, I did not seek to bring political pressure on the provincial commissioner," Mthethwa wrote in the affidavit.
He said the accusations of collusion between business and government were unfortunate.
"In a democratic society, the relations between capital, labour and civil society is one that requires ongoing attention in finding solutions that are in the public interest," Mthethwa said.
"Any such interaction is no manifestation of toxic collusion."
Source : Sapa /jm/th/ks/jje
Date : 14 Jul 2014 13:28
The shootings and deaths at Marikana should not have happened in a democratic South Africa, former police minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Monday.
"Whatever happened there was not supposed to happen under democracy. Something terribly wrong took place there," he testified at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.
"It was a tragedy visiting our democracy in the country. It was indeed a tragedy."
Mthethwa explained to the inquiry his "maximum force" and "fighting fire with fire" remarks.
He made the latter remark to a parliamentary select committee on security in November 2008 and the former during a newspaper interview in 2009.
"Approaching criminals armed to the teeth, ready to kill at the slightest or no provocation, and policing ordinary citizens are two different things. There is no need for police to be heavy-handed when dealing with ordinary people," said Mthethwa.
"Police have to defend themselves because there is fire out there. We went to areas to interact with members of the public. Ours is a caring government and there was no need to display something contrary to that as members of the South African police."
Mthethwa was police minister when 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, on August 16, 2012. More than 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested at the company's platinum mining operations.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
In his sworn statement to the inquiry, Mthethwa sought to dispel allegations of political influence.
"During the cross-examination of the (North West police) provincial commissioner (Zukiswa Mbombo), it was suggested that she allowed political considerations to influence her decisions. This is not true.
"As the political head, I did not seek to bring political pressure on the provincial commissioner," Mthethwa wrote in the affidavit.
He said the accusations of collusion between business and government were unfortunate.
"In a democratic society, the relations between capital, labour and civil society is one that requires ongoing attention in finding solutions that are in the public interest," Mthethwa said.
"Any such interaction is no manifestation of toxic collusion."
Source : Sapa /jm/th/ks/jje
Date : 14 Jul 2014 13:28
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- 105,603
‘THAT PERSON IS ME': MR X
Evidence leaders at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry asked controversial police witness, Mr X, about his identity when he resumed his testimony on Thursday.
Head of evidence leaders at the inquiry, Geoff Budlender, SC, said Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana in August 2012, during a strike by Lonmin mineworkers.
"You have said to this commission you are not the person seen in the bottom photograph. I want to put it to you that it is the same person seen in the upper photograph, including his same clothes and blanket," Budlender said at the inquiry's hearings in Pretoria.
Mr X said he did not agree.
The photos were taken at Marikana on August 15, 2012. They show a group of the protesters who were leading the negotiations.
Budlender went on: "If this commission finds that it is the same person in both photographs, then it means the person in the upper photograph is also not you. It is the same person in the photos."
Mr X insisted he was the man in the upper photograph.
Commission chairman Ian Farlam intervened to help Mr X.
"If the commission finds that it is the same person, then what Mr Budlender is saying is true and you are not the person in the photograph."
Mr X said he was the man in the upper photograph only.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is under police witness protection and is testifying at the commission via video link from an undisclosed location.
The witness claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of two Lonmin security guards on August 12.
A total of 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana on August 16.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/aa/th/jje
Date : 17 Jul 2014 11:00
Evidence leaders at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry asked controversial police witness, Mr X, about his identity when he resumed his testimony on Thursday.
Head of evidence leaders at the inquiry, Geoff Budlender, SC, said Mr X was not the person he claimed to be in photographs taken at Marikana in August 2012, during a strike by Lonmin mineworkers.
"You have said to this commission you are not the person seen in the bottom photograph. I want to put it to you that it is the same person seen in the upper photograph, including his same clothes and blanket," Budlender said at the inquiry's hearings in Pretoria.
Mr X said he did not agree.
The photos were taken at Marikana on August 15, 2012. They show a group of the protesters who were leading the negotiations.
Budlender went on: "If this commission finds that it is the same person in both photographs, then it means the person in the upper photograph is also not you. It is the same person in the photos."
Mr X insisted he was the man in the upper photograph.
Commission chairman Ian Farlam intervened to help Mr X.
"If the commission finds that it is the same person, then what Mr Budlender is saying is true and you are not the person in the photograph."
Mr X said he was the man in the upper photograph only.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is under police witness protection and is testifying at the commission via video link from an undisclosed location.
The witness claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of two Lonmin security guards on August 12.
A total of 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana on August 16.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/aa/th/jje
Date : 17 Jul 2014 11:00
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
MATHUNJWA CAUSED MARIKANA: MR X
Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa caused the confrontation between police officers and striking Marikana miners which left 34 people dead, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
Police witness Mr X was questioned in Pretoria by the commission's head of evidence leaders, Geoff Budlender, SC, about allegations he made against the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union's (Amcu) president.
"We were being used by Mathunjwa to do fraud. I really want to apologise about what happened at Marikana. We forced people to join Amcu," Mr X said.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is under police witness protection and is testifying at the commission via video link from an undisclosed location.
"Workers joined out of fear, they realised there were killings going on," he said.
"People were being killed at Marikana. Life is more important than money."
Budlender asked: "Who defrauded who? Mr X, you seem to be very angry with Mr Mathunjwa. You previously fabricated incidents about him coming to the (Marikana) koppie (on August 14, 2012).
"Why are you so angry with Mr Mathunjwa? Do you blame Mr Mathunjwa for what happened at Marikana?"
Mr X responded: "It is him. I am not making a mistake."
Commission chairman Ian Farlam intervened to help Mr X.
"I don't understand why you say Mr Mathunjwa is responsible for the death of people on the 16th August 2012. Evidence we have had is that on that fatal afternoon he pleaded with people at the koppie to lay down their arms and leave," Farlam said.
"He went down on bended knees. He told the people that police would kill them. According to evidence, he went out of his way. You are saying he is responsible (for the deaths). Can you help me understand your evidence?"
Mr X said Mathunjwa intervened because he wanted to boost his union's membership.
"He came to us at the koppie (on August 16, 2012). My question is what was he doing there? All that happened at Marikana is because of Mathunjwa," said Mr X.
"He was seeking membership. If you are proposing love to a lady, you don't talk about other men, you only talk about yourself. He wanted to take NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) members."
During the strike by platinum miners in the North West in 2012, Amcu replaced NUM as the dominant union at Lonmin's mines.
Mr X has previously been questioned over his assertion that Mathunjwa addressed strikers at Marikana on August 14, 2012.
Budlender said contrary to Mr X's evidence, phone records indicated the Amcu leader was not at Marikana that day.
"Phone records show where he [Mathunjwa] was when he was receiving and making calls. He made and received no calls in Marikana or North West. To the contrary he was in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Witbank. Can you explain that?"
Mr X responded: "I cannot explain it, except to say maybe Mr Mathunjwa was using someone's phone. Mr Mathunjwa arrived there. Pretoria and Johannesburg are not far from Marikana."
Budlender told the commission it had been established that on August 15, 2012 Mathunjwa's phone was near the SABC. He was later interviewed by the national broadcaster.
The witness claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of two Lonmin security guards on August 12.
A total of 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana on August 16.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/jje/th
Date : 17 Jul 2014 12:20
Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa caused the confrontation between police officers and striking Marikana miners which left 34 people dead, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.
Police witness Mr X was questioned in Pretoria by the commission's head of evidence leaders, Geoff Budlender, SC, about allegations he made against the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union's (Amcu) president.
"We were being used by Mathunjwa to do fraud. I really want to apologise about what happened at Marikana. We forced people to join Amcu," Mr X said.
Mr X may not be named to protect his identity. He is under police witness protection and is testifying at the commission via video link from an undisclosed location.
"Workers joined out of fear, they realised there were killings going on," he said.
"People were being killed at Marikana. Life is more important than money."
Budlender asked: "Who defrauded who? Mr X, you seem to be very angry with Mr Mathunjwa. You previously fabricated incidents about him coming to the (Marikana) koppie (on August 14, 2012).
"Why are you so angry with Mr Mathunjwa? Do you blame Mr Mathunjwa for what happened at Marikana?"
Mr X responded: "It is him. I am not making a mistake."
Commission chairman Ian Farlam intervened to help Mr X.
"I don't understand why you say Mr Mathunjwa is responsible for the death of people on the 16th August 2012. Evidence we have had is that on that fatal afternoon he pleaded with people at the koppie to lay down their arms and leave," Farlam said.
"He went down on bended knees. He told the people that police would kill them. According to evidence, he went out of his way. You are saying he is responsible (for the deaths). Can you help me understand your evidence?"
Mr X said Mathunjwa intervened because he wanted to boost his union's membership.
"He came to us at the koppie (on August 16, 2012). My question is what was he doing there? All that happened at Marikana is because of Mathunjwa," said Mr X.
"He was seeking membership. If you are proposing love to a lady, you don't talk about other men, you only talk about yourself. He wanted to take NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) members."
During the strike by platinum miners in the North West in 2012, Amcu replaced NUM as the dominant union at Lonmin's mines.
Mr X has previously been questioned over his assertion that Mathunjwa addressed strikers at Marikana on August 14, 2012.
Budlender said contrary to Mr X's evidence, phone records indicated the Amcu leader was not at Marikana that day.
"Phone records show where he [Mathunjwa] was when he was receiving and making calls. He made and received no calls in Marikana or North West. To the contrary he was in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Witbank. Can you explain that?"
Mr X responded: "I cannot explain it, except to say maybe Mr Mathunjwa was using someone's phone. Mr Mathunjwa arrived there. Pretoria and Johannesburg are not far from Marikana."
Budlender told the commission it had been established that on August 15, 2012 Mathunjwa's phone was near the SABC. He was later interviewed by the national broadcaster.
The witness claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of two Lonmin security guards on August 12.
A total of 34 people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police in Marikana on August 16.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. The commission is investigating the 44 deaths.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/jje/th
Date : 17 Jul 2014 12:20
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
WIDOWS WALK OUT OF MARIKANA INQUIRY
Widows of those killed at Marikana in August 2012 staged a walk-out on Friday from the commission that is probing the circumstances that led to their husbands' deaths.
This was in response to chairman of the commission, retired judge Ian Farlam, saying that family of the arrested and injured miners should be admitted to the overflow room, rather than the main auditorium.
Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested miners, interrupted cross-examination of police witness Mr X, whose identity is being protected, to draw attention to a "mini crisis outside".
"There are about 32 people, the majority are my clients and the rest are family of my clients," Mpofu said.
Farlam said he had previously ruled that only parties to the commission should be allowed in. Other members of the public needed to watch from an overflow room, during Mr X's testimony.
Mpofu said: "The irony is they have been allowed in the hall for the rest of Mr X's testimony. They see it (not being allowed in) as a sinister motive."
In the main auditorium where the commission sits, Mr X's face is visible on a screen via video link from an undisclosed location. In the overflow room, his face cannot be seen.
Farlam said it had only been discovered on Thursday that people who were not parties had erroneously been allowed into the main auditorium.
"The injured and arrested have a right to be here, others must go to the overflow room."
Mpofu argued that "these people do not fall into the category of members of the public".
Farlam responded that the family members were not to be considered as parties. Rather, some members of the public had a greater degree of interest in proceedings than others.
At this point Mr X switched off the camera so the screen where his face appeared went blank.
At this point the widows stood up and walked out of the hall.
Farlam said: "They must take what action they see appropriate."
A short adjournment was called.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /mjs/jje/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 10:16
Widows of those killed at Marikana in August 2012 staged a walk-out on Friday from the commission that is probing the circumstances that led to their husbands' deaths.
This was in response to chairman of the commission, retired judge Ian Farlam, saying that family of the arrested and injured miners should be admitted to the overflow room, rather than the main auditorium.
Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested miners, interrupted cross-examination of police witness Mr X, whose identity is being protected, to draw attention to a "mini crisis outside".
"There are about 32 people, the majority are my clients and the rest are family of my clients," Mpofu said.
Farlam said he had previously ruled that only parties to the commission should be allowed in. Other members of the public needed to watch from an overflow room, during Mr X's testimony.
Mpofu said: "The irony is they have been allowed in the hall for the rest of Mr X's testimony. They see it (not being allowed in) as a sinister motive."
In the main auditorium where the commission sits, Mr X's face is visible on a screen via video link from an undisclosed location. In the overflow room, his face cannot be seen.
Farlam said it had only been discovered on Thursday that people who were not parties had erroneously been allowed into the main auditorium.
"The injured and arrested have a right to be here, others must go to the overflow room."
Mpofu argued that "these people do not fall into the category of members of the public".
Farlam responded that the family members were not to be considered as parties. Rather, some members of the public had a greater degree of interest in proceedings than others.
At this point Mr X switched off the camera so the screen where his face appeared went blank.
At this point the widows stood up and walked out of the hall.
Farlam said: "They must take what action they see appropriate."
A short adjournment was called.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /mjs/jje/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 10:16
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
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- 105,603
MARIKANA WIDOWS RETURN TO COMMISSION
The widows of those killed at Marikana in August 2012 returned on Friday morning to the chamber where the Farlam Commission is sitting after staging a walk-out.
They walked out in response to the commission's chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, saying family of the arrested and injured miners should be admitted to the overflow room, rather than the main auditorium.
He previously ordered that members of the public should not be allowed into the chamber during the testimony of the police's key witness, known only as Mr X, to protect his identity.
After a brief adjournment, the widows returned to the auditorium.
"... For today only, we will allow people who were in the chamber yesterday, contrary to the order that was made, to remain in the chamber today," said Farlam.
Mr X is testifying via a video link from an undisclosed location. He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, who participated in the killing of two mine security guards and two police officers.
Under cross-examination by Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, for the families of the mineworkers who were killed, Mr X said he feared for his life because of his decision to give evidence to the commission.
He denied having been offered immunity from prosecution, or any incentive for giving evidence.
Ntsebeza asked him: "Who would put your life in danger?"
Mr X responded: "I'm scared of the people with whom we committed these serious things [killings] at Marikana."
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana. Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with the police, more than 70 were wounded, and another 250 were arrested on August 16, 2012.
The police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /mjs/fg/cls/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 12:28
The widows of those killed at Marikana in August 2012 returned on Friday morning to the chamber where the Farlam Commission is sitting after staging a walk-out.
They walked out in response to the commission's chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, saying family of the arrested and injured miners should be admitted to the overflow room, rather than the main auditorium.
He previously ordered that members of the public should not be allowed into the chamber during the testimony of the police's key witness, known only as Mr X, to protect his identity.
After a brief adjournment, the widows returned to the auditorium.
"... For today only, we will allow people who were in the chamber yesterday, contrary to the order that was made, to remain in the chamber today," said Farlam.
Mr X is testifying via a video link from an undisclosed location. He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin workers at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, who participated in the killing of two mine security guards and two police officers.
Under cross-examination by Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, for the families of the mineworkers who were killed, Mr X said he feared for his life because of his decision to give evidence to the commission.
He denied having been offered immunity from prosecution, or any incentive for giving evidence.
Ntsebeza asked him: "Who would put your life in danger?"
Mr X responded: "I'm scared of the people with whom we committed these serious things [killings] at Marikana."
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana. Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with the police, more than 70 were wounded, and another 250 were arrested on August 16, 2012.
The police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /mjs/fg/cls/ar
Date : 18 Jul 2014 12:28
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- 105,603
MARIKANA MR X MEETS CHRIST
A police witness, known only as Mr X, had been converted to Christianity, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
This emerged when Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners, cross-examined Mr X at the inquiry in Pretoria.
"You are looking good today. I see you are even wearing a tie," said Mpofu.
Testifying in Xhosa, Mr X said he was converted on Sunday.
He said he would be discarding muti, to follow the prescripts of Christianity.
The witness, who cannot be identified, is testifying via a video link to protect his identity as he says he fears for his life. He is held under police witness protection.
Mpofu went on: "So you were in church yesterday? Since your conversion, who bought you the tie?"
Mr X said he bought the tie himself in Cape Town on Sunday. He said he arrived in Pretoria on Monday morning, from Cape Town.
Mpofu said he will argue that Mr X's testimony "lacks credibility and was irretrievably destroyed to the point of non-existence".
"In the unlikely event that anything you said was true, it is embroiled in so many layers of lies such that it cannot be separated out. More than 90 percent of what you say is false," said Mpofu.
Mr X said he would stand by his evidence, even in court.
"I stand by what I have said. I can repeat it in court. A court which can differentiate between winter and summer," said Mr X.
Mpofu went on: "It's not too late Mr X. Now that you found the Lord yesterday, you may want to consider that lying is a sin."
Mr X said his evidence had been "straight".
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X also claims he was among the protesters who fatally shot and hacked two policemen on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku died after being repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
On Monday, Mpofu said Mr X's motives for testifying at the inquiry were questionable.
Mr X responded: "I have no motives. I am telling the truth just like Mandela. I speak the truth, just like Mandela."
Mpofu said the inquiry should discard Mr X's evidence because it was unreliable.
"You have delusions. One of the delusions is your being Mandela," said Mpofu.
"It has been demonstrated that you were not a member of the 15-person workers committee and another group of five that was negotiating with mine management."
Mr X said Mpofu could not make his assertions with certainty as he was not at the protests.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/lp/jje
Date : 21 Jul 2014 12:56
A police witness, known only as Mr X, had been converted to Christianity, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.
This emerged when Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners, cross-examined Mr X at the inquiry in Pretoria.
"You are looking good today. I see you are even wearing a tie," said Mpofu.
Testifying in Xhosa, Mr X said he was converted on Sunday.
He said he would be discarding muti, to follow the prescripts of Christianity.
The witness, who cannot be identified, is testifying via a video link to protect his identity as he says he fears for his life. He is held under police witness protection.
Mpofu went on: "So you were in church yesterday? Since your conversion, who bought you the tie?"
Mr X said he bought the tie himself in Cape Town on Sunday. He said he arrived in Pretoria on Monday morning, from Cape Town.
Mpofu said he will argue that Mr X's testimony "lacks credibility and was irretrievably destroyed to the point of non-existence".
"In the unlikely event that anything you said was true, it is embroiled in so many layers of lies such that it cannot be separated out. More than 90 percent of what you say is false," said Mpofu.
Mr X said he would stand by his evidence, even in court.
"I stand by what I have said. I can repeat it in court. A court which can differentiate between winter and summer," said Mr X.
Mpofu went on: "It's not too late Mr X. Now that you found the Lord yesterday, you may want to consider that lying is a sin."
Mr X said his evidence had been "straight".
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X also claims he was among the protesters who fatally shot and hacked two policemen on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku died after being repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
On Monday, Mpofu said Mr X's motives for testifying at the inquiry were questionable.
Mr X responded: "I have no motives. I am telling the truth just like Mandela. I speak the truth, just like Mandela."
Mpofu said the inquiry should discard Mr X's evidence because it was unreliable.
"You have delusions. One of the delusions is your being Mandela," said Mpofu.
"It has been demonstrated that you were not a member of the 15-person workers committee and another group of five that was negotiating with mine management."
Mr X said Mpofu could not make his assertions with certainty as he was not at the protests.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/lp/jje
Date : 21 Jul 2014 12:56
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MR X FEELS INSULTED
A police witness, known only as Mr X, hit back at lawyers casting aspersions on his mental state at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday.
Dali Mpofu, SC, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners, was cross examining the mineworker, who testified via video link from an undisclosed location.
"I am still listing the reasons why I am going to say your evidence should be discarded as a whole. I am putting this in the kindest possible way, you are in a bad mental and emotional state," said Mpofu.
Mr X responded: "You are insulting me, Mr Mpofu. I have said let us respect each other. You should say that in court."
"Can you talk to a mad person? I am asking you Mr Mpofu, can you talk to a mad person?"
Mpofu said he would not answer Mr X's question "out of respect."
The witness, who cannot be identified, is under police witness protection and has said he fears for his life.
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X also claims he was among the protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepakuwere were killed during the confrontation at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Last month, Mpofu brought an application to have Mr X undergo mental observation.
"The nature and purpose of this application is simply to seek a ruling that Mr X's competence and capability to give evidence as a witness in the commission be investigated, preferably by means of a medical inquiry into his mental or psychological state," said Mpofu at the time.
He said the rights of affected parties had to be protected.
"Mr X is a very important witness, and the issues he is pronouncing [on] are issues that are of a very serious nature. The allegations he makes in respect of certain people have far-reaching implications," Mpofu said.
On Monday, Mpofu asked Mr X whether he had suffered severe head injuries at Marikana.
Mr X responded: "There is nothing like that. You are not a doctor. You have never searched my head."
Mpofu asked Mr X to explain whether he had suffered dizziness while giving evidence at the inquiry.
Mr X responded: "Everybody suffered from a headache at some point. You have insulted me, Mr Mpofu".
The witness said Mpofu's statements hurt his feelings.
Earlier this month, the inquiry was adjourned after Mr X said he was mentally exhausted and requested a break.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/mjs/jje
Date : 21 Jul 2014 14:15
A police witness, known only as Mr X, hit back at lawyers casting aspersions on his mental state at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday.
Dali Mpofu, SC, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners, was cross examining the mineworker, who testified via video link from an undisclosed location.
"I am still listing the reasons why I am going to say your evidence should be discarded as a whole. I am putting this in the kindest possible way, you are in a bad mental and emotional state," said Mpofu.
Mr X responded: "You are insulting me, Mr Mpofu. I have said let us respect each other. You should say that in court."
"Can you talk to a mad person? I am asking you Mr Mpofu, can you talk to a mad person?"
Mpofu said he would not answer Mr X's question "out of respect."
The witness, who cannot be identified, is under police witness protection and has said he fears for his life.
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who underwent traditional rituals, and participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X also claims he was among the protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepakuwere were killed during the confrontation at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana.
Last month, Mpofu brought an application to have Mr X undergo mental observation.
"The nature and purpose of this application is simply to seek a ruling that Mr X's competence and capability to give evidence as a witness in the commission be investigated, preferably by means of a medical inquiry into his mental or psychological state," said Mpofu at the time.
He said the rights of affected parties had to be protected.
"Mr X is a very important witness, and the issues he is pronouncing [on] are issues that are of a very serious nature. The allegations he makes in respect of certain people have far-reaching implications," Mpofu said.
On Monday, Mpofu asked Mr X whether he had suffered severe head injuries at Marikana.
Mr X responded: "There is nothing like that. You are not a doctor. You have never searched my head."
Mpofu asked Mr X to explain whether he had suffered dizziness while giving evidence at the inquiry.
Mr X responded: "Everybody suffered from a headache at some point. You have insulted me, Mr Mpofu".
The witness said Mpofu's statements hurt his feelings.
Earlier this month, the inquiry was adjourned after Mr X said he was mentally exhausted and requested a break.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/fg/mjs/jje
Date : 21 Jul 2014 14:15
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MR X'S TESTIMONY JUST POLICE PR: MPOFU
The witness known as Mr X was called by the SA Police Service (SAPS) to testify as a public relations exercise, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
"I suggested that the bulk of my cross-examination is about showing that you have been called by the police purely as a public relations [exercise] which has turned sour and backfired," said Dali Mpofu, SC, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners.
He was cross-examining Mr X at the inquiry's public hearings in Pretoria.
"You don't have much to contribute to the core business of this commission."
Mr X, who cannot be identified to protect his identity, is testifying via a video link from an undisclosed location. He says he fears for his life and is under police witness protection.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana, North West, in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Mpofu said police were implicated in the murders of 37 of the 44 people. Mr X said Mpofu was wrongly accusing the police.
"I don't agree with you. I have told you, the police are innocent for the deaths of the people. You should not take the syllabus backwards," Mr X said.
Mpofu said Mr X was brought to testify despite police knowing he had nothing to contribute.
"I am going to argue that you were called here knowing that you cannot contribute to assist SAPS in what it is blamed for. The public relations exercise has turned into a public relations disaster.
"Even in respect of the deaths you participated in, the quality of your evidence is only a source of trauma for the families. Your evidence is riddled with contradictions," said Mpofu.
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana who participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X claims he was among protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku were repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Marikana.
The public hearings were adjourned on Tuesday morning because Mr X said he had an upset stomach.
Source : Sapa /jm/th/jje/lp
Date : 22 Jul 2014 11:13
The witness known as Mr X was called by the SA Police Service (SAPS) to testify as a public relations exercise, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.
"I suggested that the bulk of my cross-examination is about showing that you have been called by the police purely as a public relations [exercise] which has turned sour and backfired," said Dali Mpofu, SC, for the injured and arrested Marikana miners.
He was cross-examining Mr X at the inquiry's public hearings in Pretoria.
"You don't have much to contribute to the core business of this commission."
Mr X, who cannot be identified to protect his identity, is testifying via a video link from an undisclosed location. He says he fears for his life and is under police witness protection.
The inquiry, led by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations at Marikana, North West, in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Mpofu said police were implicated in the murders of 37 of the 44 people. Mr X said Mpofu was wrongly accusing the police.
"I don't agree with you. I have told you, the police are innocent for the deaths of the people. You should not take the syllabus backwards," Mr X said.
Mpofu said Mr X was brought to testify despite police knowing he had nothing to contribute.
"I am going to argue that you were called here knowing that you cannot contribute to assist SAPS in what it is blamed for. The public relations exercise has turned into a public relations disaster.
"Even in respect of the deaths you participated in, the quality of your evidence is only a source of trauma for the families. Your evidence is riddled with contradictions," said Mpofu.
Mr X claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana who participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X claims he was among protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012.
Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku were repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Marikana.
The public hearings were adjourned on Tuesday morning because Mr X said he had an upset stomach.
Source : Sapa /jm/th/jje/lp
Date : 22 Jul 2014 11:13
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MARIKANA'S 'MR X' OFF SICK
Proceedings at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry were postponed on Tuesday after police witness, known only as "Mr X", fell ill.
After a prolonged break, Tebogo Mathibedi, for the police, announced the witness could not proceed on Tuesday.
"Mr X was taken to the doctor. He has been booked off for today and tomorrow," Mathibedi said.
Mr X had complained about an upset stomach earlier.
Inquiry chairman retired judge Ian Farlam said the testimony of Mr X would stand down and a Lonmin executive, Michael da Costa, would give evidence on Wednesday.
Mr X, who cannot be identified to protect his identity, had been testifying via video link from an undisclosed location. He says he fears for his life and is under police witness protection.
He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X claims he was also among protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012. Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku were repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Marikana.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp/th
Date : 22 Jul 2014 14:39
Proceedings at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry were postponed on Tuesday after police witness, known only as "Mr X", fell ill.
After a prolonged break, Tebogo Mathibedi, for the police, announced the witness could not proceed on Tuesday.
"Mr X was taken to the doctor. He has been booked off for today and tomorrow," Mathibedi said.
Mr X had complained about an upset stomach earlier.
Inquiry chairman retired judge Ian Farlam said the testimony of Mr X would stand down and a Lonmin executive, Michael da Costa, would give evidence on Wednesday.
Mr X, who cannot be identified to protect his identity, had been testifying via video link from an undisclosed location. He says he fears for his life and is under police witness protection.
He claims he was part of a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, who participated in the killing of Lonmin security guards Hassan Fundi and Frans Mabelani on August 12, 2012.
He has detailed in an affidavit how flesh was cut from Fundi's face, how sangomas cut this into smaller pieces, mixed it with blood, and burnt it to ashes for the miners to lick. This was apparently to prepare them for a confrontation with police.
Mr X claims he was also among protesters who shot and hacked two policemen to death on August 13, 2012. Warrant Officers Tsietsi Monene and Sello Leepaku were repeatedly stabbed during the confrontation at Marikana.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's mining operations in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking Lonmin mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including the two policemen and the two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/lp/th
Date : 22 Jul 2014 14:39
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
MARIKANA ON EDGE AFTER ANOTHER MURDER
Mineworkers in Marikana, North West, fear for their lives after a colleague was shot dead in the area, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Bongani "Bhayi" Mehlonkomo was killed in Marikana on Tuesday evening.
Dali Mpofu SC, for miners arrested and wounded during strike-related violence in Marikana in August 2012, told the commission his clients were petrified.
"There is growing concern among the people that I represent. Speculation in the community is that the assassination is connected to the mentioning of names by Mr X," Mpofu told the inquiry in Pretoria.
"Their fear is that those who have been implicated falsely feel that their lives are under threat. They are not under protection and are vulnerable."
Police witness "Mr X" may not be identified and is testifying via a remote video link from an undisclosed location. He is under witness protection.
Mpofu said Mr X had mentioned Bhayi repeatedly at the inquiry, implicating him in the August 2012 murders of police officers and Lonmin security guards.
Bhayi was a member of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union.
Under cross-examination last week, Mr X was asked by Takalani Masevhe, for the family of slain Warrant Officer Tsietsi Monene, to name the person who shot the policeman at close range.
After much hesitation, Mr X said those responsible were a protester Tholakele, popularly known as "Bhele", and Bongani, popularly known as "Bhayi". He said he did not know their surnames.
"I want to apologise because these men said I should not mention their names. I communicate with the men of Marikana. They must tell the truth," said Mr X.
Monene was one of two officers hacked and shot dead on August 13, 2012 after police clashed with protesting miners.
Last year, commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, offered the commission's condolences following the murder of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) branch chairman William Setelele. He was shot dead near the Marikana hill close to Lonmin's platinum mine.
Another NUM official, Daluvuyo Bongo, was killed in October 2012.
The NUM branch secretary was shot six times at his home at the Wonderkop hostel complex in Marikana on October 5. He was scheduled to testify at the commission's public hearings.
At the time of Bongo's death, the NUM said he was set to present key information to the commission.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead by police apparently trying to disarm and disperse them on August 16, 2012. Seventy others were wounded and 250 arrested.
In the preceding week, 10 people including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/jje/th
Date : 23 Jul 2014 11:03
Mineworkers in Marikana, North West, fear for their lives after a colleague was shot dead in the area, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Bongani "Bhayi" Mehlonkomo was killed in Marikana on Tuesday evening.
Dali Mpofu SC, for miners arrested and wounded during strike-related violence in Marikana in August 2012, told the commission his clients were petrified.
"There is growing concern among the people that I represent. Speculation in the community is that the assassination is connected to the mentioning of names by Mr X," Mpofu told the inquiry in Pretoria.
"Their fear is that those who have been implicated falsely feel that their lives are under threat. They are not under protection and are vulnerable."
Police witness "Mr X" may not be identified and is testifying via a remote video link from an undisclosed location. He is under witness protection.
Mpofu said Mr X had mentioned Bhayi repeatedly at the inquiry, implicating him in the August 2012 murders of police officers and Lonmin security guards.
Bhayi was a member of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union.
Under cross-examination last week, Mr X was asked by Takalani Masevhe, for the family of slain Warrant Officer Tsietsi Monene, to name the person who shot the policeman at close range.
After much hesitation, Mr X said those responsible were a protester Tholakele, popularly known as "Bhele", and Bongani, popularly known as "Bhayi". He said he did not know their surnames.
"I want to apologise because these men said I should not mention their names. I communicate with the men of Marikana. They must tell the truth," said Mr X.
Monene was one of two officers hacked and shot dead on August 13, 2012 after police clashed with protesting miners.
Last year, commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, offered the commission's condolences following the murder of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) branch chairman William Setelele. He was shot dead near the Marikana hill close to Lonmin's platinum mine.
Another NUM official, Daluvuyo Bongo, was killed in October 2012.
The NUM branch secretary was shot six times at his home at the Wonderkop hostel complex in Marikana on October 5. He was scheduled to testify at the commission's public hearings.
At the time of Bongo's death, the NUM said he was set to present key information to the commission.
The inquiry is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, in August 2012.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead by police apparently trying to disarm and disperse them on August 16, 2012. Seventy others were wounded and 250 arrested.
In the preceding week, 10 people including the two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
Source : Sapa /jm/jk/jje/th
Date : 23 Jul 2014 11:03