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Honorary Master
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600 pages will to take a few days to digest ... Zuma's version seems cherry picked.
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Marikana Shootings Farlam Commission Thread
600 pages will to take a few days to digest ... Zuma's version seems cherry picked.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
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- Aug 26, 2011
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True. Although it is quite scathing so far.
nightjar
Executive Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2008
- Messages
- 6,171
Pages 104 - 106 of the report makes quite clear the attitude of the miners.
An undercover security superintendent employed by Lonmin Security who infiltrated the meeting of strikers at the Koppie stated in his statement 172 as follows:
An undercover security superintendent employed by Lonmin Security who infiltrated the meeting of strikers at the Koppie stated in his statement 172 as follows:
Vrotappel
Bulls fan
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2005
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- 25,982
More jobs gone in SA. You now must protect the crazies working for you.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
When are they going to investigate the idiot who keeps appointing all the useless police commissioners?
nightjar
Executive Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2008
- Messages
- 6,171
All strike action in SA by teachers, civil servants, taxis, municipal & industrial workers has involved violence, murder, intimmidation, looting, arson and random vandalism where the police have usually stood aside, taking no action to protect law abiding citizens and workers.
Only once in twenty years have SAPS taken a stand, possibly this time because of the knowledge that the mob believed that muti had made it immune to bullets and that killing could be done with impunity, adding to the killings of the previous days.
Had firm action been taken against the first strike violence twenty years earlier, Marikana might not have been necessary.
Last edited:
Precisely. Run at me with a stick, machete, several thousand of your friends and I have a gun? It's not going to end well for you.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
Marikana reaction: Phiyega, Ramaphosa must face consequences
Johannesburg - Opposition parties called on police commissioner Riah Phiyega to be suspended or axed and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to face the might of the law despite the Marikana report exonerating him from any involvement in the 2012 shootings.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said the Marikana commission's report seemed to place most of the blame on the SA Police Service, and called for Phiyega to be fired.
"The DA will call for nothing less than the dismissal of National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, who is clearly unfit for office," he said in a statement.
"The report has plainly found that Riah Phiyega and the SAPS leadership took a decision that they knew would result in bloodshed. They never stopped the operation when the shootings began, and they left miners to die in the dust for a full hour before medical help was called in."
EFF want Ramaphosa to be prosecuted
President Jacob Zuma read out a summary of the findings and recommendations from the Marikana commission on Thursday evening, almost three months after receiving the report.
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told PowerFM that his party would pursue the prosecution of Ramaphosa for the Marikana killings.
He said the EFF believed he was at the centre of the incident.
In a statement, Ramaphosa's office said the deputy president had noted the release of the report.
"Deputy President Ramaphosa will study the contents of the report and will in due course provide his comment. Deputy President Ramaphosa voluntarily gave evidence to the Farlam Commission with a view to assisting the Commission to reach its conclusions," his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
National police spokesperson Solomon Makgale could not be reached for comment.
The Congress of the People said Phiyega could not remain in her job and it had expected Zuma to announce her resignation.
"She cannot remain after the police twice misled the commission," Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said in a statement.
"After 87 days of studying the report, we also expected the President to announce what advice he had received from his ministers about prosecuting both commissioners and other senior police officials."
The Marikana report exonerated Ramaphosa and former police minister Nathi Mthethwa and mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu, saying the executive could not be held accountable for the events on August 16.
Phiyega 'not fit to hold office'
The Inkatha Freedom Party also called for Phiyega and all police officials involved in the 2012 Marikana shooting to be suspended with immediate effect.
"The summarised findings of the report clearly indicate grave tactical and judgmental errors on the side of the national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and many other SAPS members involved in the tragedy at Lonmin mine," IFP MP Albert Mncwango said in a statement.
"The IFP has always contended that national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, was never fit to hold office as she did not have the requisite training and experience coming, as she did, from a civilian background."
The commission found that Lonmin did not use its best endeavours to resolve the disputes that arose between itself and its workers who participated in the unprotected strike and between the strikers and workers who did not participate in the strike.
It also found that it had failed to ensure the safety of its workers and did not comply with housing obligations for them.
“As a company we have worked hard over the past two-and-a-half years to build a more open, transparent and mutually trustworthy environment, and in the process make Lonmin a safer, better place to work," CEO Ben Magara said in a statement.
"We have placed particular emphasis on living conditions and employee indebtedness, two burning issues that we believe will make a profound impact on the well-being of our employees. Much work has been done in this regard."
Unions rapped over knuckles
He said this was in addition to the assistance the company rendered to the widows and children of the employees who died in 2012.
The commission also rapped unions over the knuckles for not controlling their members at the time.
The National Union of Mineworkers welcomed the recommendations and findings of the Marikana commission, but said it would only speak publicly on them once it had studied the commission's report.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union could not be reached for comment.
The Chamber of Mines said it needed time to absorb and analyse all the findings made in the Marikana report.
Genevieve Quintal, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...ega-Ramaphosa-must-face-consequences-20150625
Johannesburg - Opposition parties called on police commissioner Riah Phiyega to be suspended or axed and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to face the might of the law despite the Marikana report exonerating him from any involvement in the 2012 shootings.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said the Marikana commission's report seemed to place most of the blame on the SA Police Service, and called for Phiyega to be fired.
"The DA will call for nothing less than the dismissal of National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, who is clearly unfit for office," he said in a statement.
"The report has plainly found that Riah Phiyega and the SAPS leadership took a decision that they knew would result in bloodshed. They never stopped the operation when the shootings began, and they left miners to die in the dust for a full hour before medical help was called in."
EFF want Ramaphosa to be prosecuted
President Jacob Zuma read out a summary of the findings and recommendations from the Marikana commission on Thursday evening, almost three months after receiving the report.
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told PowerFM that his party would pursue the prosecution of Ramaphosa for the Marikana killings.
He said the EFF believed he was at the centre of the incident.
In a statement, Ramaphosa's office said the deputy president had noted the release of the report.
"Deputy President Ramaphosa will study the contents of the report and will in due course provide his comment. Deputy President Ramaphosa voluntarily gave evidence to the Farlam Commission with a view to assisting the Commission to reach its conclusions," his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
National police spokesperson Solomon Makgale could not be reached for comment.
The Congress of the People said Phiyega could not remain in her job and it had expected Zuma to announce her resignation.
"She cannot remain after the police twice misled the commission," Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said in a statement.
"After 87 days of studying the report, we also expected the President to announce what advice he had received from his ministers about prosecuting both commissioners and other senior police officials."
The Marikana report exonerated Ramaphosa and former police minister Nathi Mthethwa and mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu, saying the executive could not be held accountable for the events on August 16.
Phiyega 'not fit to hold office'
The Inkatha Freedom Party also called for Phiyega and all police officials involved in the 2012 Marikana shooting to be suspended with immediate effect.
"The summarised findings of the report clearly indicate grave tactical and judgmental errors on the side of the national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and many other SAPS members involved in the tragedy at Lonmin mine," IFP MP Albert Mncwango said in a statement.
"The IFP has always contended that national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, was never fit to hold office as she did not have the requisite training and experience coming, as she did, from a civilian background."
The commission found that Lonmin did not use its best endeavours to resolve the disputes that arose between itself and its workers who participated in the unprotected strike and between the strikers and workers who did not participate in the strike.
It also found that it had failed to ensure the safety of its workers and did not comply with housing obligations for them.
“As a company we have worked hard over the past two-and-a-half years to build a more open, transparent and mutually trustworthy environment, and in the process make Lonmin a safer, better place to work," CEO Ben Magara said in a statement.
"We have placed particular emphasis on living conditions and employee indebtedness, two burning issues that we believe will make a profound impact on the well-being of our employees. Much work has been done in this regard."
Unions rapped over knuckles
He said this was in addition to the assistance the company rendered to the widows and children of the employees who died in 2012.
The commission also rapped unions over the knuckles for not controlling their members at the time.
The National Union of Mineworkers welcomed the recommendations and findings of the Marikana commission, but said it would only speak publicly on them once it had studied the commission's report.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union could not be reached for comment.
The Chamber of Mines said it needed time to absorb and analyse all the findings made in the Marikana report.
Genevieve Quintal, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...ega-Ramaphosa-must-face-consequences-20150625
I'm fairly certain that that turd at the top of the heap also uttered something about action being taken about violent protest. It wasn't only Shabangu or Cele. The dumb one had also said something.
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
We need time to analyse, absorb Marikana report - Chamber of Mines
Johannesburg - The Chamber of Mines needed time to absorb and analyse all the findings made in the Marikana report, released by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday night.
"The Chamber of Mines welcomes the release this evening of the report of Judge Farlam on the events that occurred at Marikana in August 2012," the chamber said in a statement.
"We will naturally need some time to absorb and analyse all findings of relevance to the mining industry as a whole, and we undertake to offer our more detailed perspectives as soon as possible."
The chamber remained saddened at the losses suffered by the families, friends and colleagues of those "who died during those dark days".
"We hope that the publication of the Farlam report plays a part in making their grief easier to bear and brings a form of closure regarding some of the key issues and question raised over the period," the chamber said.
'Co-existence for all'
"As we have said before, it is a priority for the industry that our activities should not cause harm to any stakeholder, and that we should play our part in ensuring a safe and dignified co-existence for all, particularly our employees and those living in mining communities."
The events at Marikana reinforced the chamber's determination to achieve those goals. While they believed significant progress had been made, they knew a road still had to be travelled.
"We trust that the report published this evening adds strength to these efforts," it said.
Earlier, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega bore the brunt of the Marikana commission's report, while Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and other ministers were let off scot-free.
Some of the blame was laid at the door of Lonmin and the two unions on the mine - the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
However, the commission exonerated Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa, finding he had done his best to persuade the striking mineworkers to lay down their arms and leave the koppie.
This was according to the findings and recommendations read out by Zuma in a live broadcast to the country on Thursday evening, three months after he was handed the 600-page reported.
The SA Police Service were the biggest losers on Thursday, with findings suggesting that it had lied to the commission about its tactical plan to disperse striking mineworkers on August 16 2012.
"The police leadership did not initially disclose to the commission, the fact that the original plan was not capable of being implemented on the first date and that it had been abandoned," said Zuma.
"In addition, police leadership did not inform the commission that the decision to go ahead with the tactical option, if the strikers did not voluntarily lay down their arms and disperse, was taken at the national management forum meeting on August 15.
"Instead, they informed the commission that this decision was taken on the 16th of August, and only after the situation had escalated."
Adam Wakefield, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...orb-Marikana-report-Chamber-of-Mines-20150625
Johannesburg - The Chamber of Mines needed time to absorb and analyse all the findings made in the Marikana report, released by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday night.
"The Chamber of Mines welcomes the release this evening of the report of Judge Farlam on the events that occurred at Marikana in August 2012," the chamber said in a statement.
"We will naturally need some time to absorb and analyse all findings of relevance to the mining industry as a whole, and we undertake to offer our more detailed perspectives as soon as possible."
The chamber remained saddened at the losses suffered by the families, friends and colleagues of those "who died during those dark days".
"We hope that the publication of the Farlam report plays a part in making their grief easier to bear and brings a form of closure regarding some of the key issues and question raised over the period," the chamber said.
'Co-existence for all'
"As we have said before, it is a priority for the industry that our activities should not cause harm to any stakeholder, and that we should play our part in ensuring a safe and dignified co-existence for all, particularly our employees and those living in mining communities."
The events at Marikana reinforced the chamber's determination to achieve those goals. While they believed significant progress had been made, they knew a road still had to be travelled.
"We trust that the report published this evening adds strength to these efforts," it said.
Earlier, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega bore the brunt of the Marikana commission's report, while Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and other ministers were let off scot-free.
Some of the blame was laid at the door of Lonmin and the two unions on the mine - the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
However, the commission exonerated Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa, finding he had done his best to persuade the striking mineworkers to lay down their arms and leave the koppie.
This was according to the findings and recommendations read out by Zuma in a live broadcast to the country on Thursday evening, three months after he was handed the 600-page reported.
The SA Police Service were the biggest losers on Thursday, with findings suggesting that it had lied to the commission about its tactical plan to disperse striking mineworkers on August 16 2012.
"The police leadership did not initially disclose to the commission, the fact that the original plan was not capable of being implemented on the first date and that it had been abandoned," said Zuma.
"In addition, police leadership did not inform the commission that the decision to go ahead with the tactical option, if the strikers did not voluntarily lay down their arms and disperse, was taken at the national management forum meeting on August 15.
"Instead, they informed the commission that this decision was taken on the 16th of August, and only after the situation had escalated."
Adam Wakefield, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...orb-Marikana-report-Chamber-of-Mines-20150625
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
We have worked hard to improve conditions - Lonmin CEO
Johannesburg - While the report by the Marikana Commission found that Lonmin had failed to ensure the safety of its workers and did not comply with housing obligations for them, the company said it had worked hard to improve conditions over the last two-and-a-half years.
“As a company we have worked hard over the past two-and-a-half years to build a more open, transparent and mutually trustworthy environment, and in the process make Lonmin a safer, better place to work," CEO Ben Magara said in a statement.
"We have placed particular emphasis on living conditions and employee indebtedness, two burning issues that we believe will make a profound impact on the well-being of our employees. Much work has been done in this regard."
He said this was in addition to the assistance the company rendered to the widows and children of the employees who died in 2012.
"While we can never replace their loved ones, we have offered employment opportunities to their families and every child of school going age is a beneficiary of the 1608 Education Trust. This is in addition to the statutory pay-outs from pension and life funds."
Magara said Lonmin gave its full support to the commission.
"Its findings will need our detailed consideration before we take further action and before we provide our considered responses," he said.
"We as a company have already moved a long way towards building a more open, transparent and mutually trusting environment. I cannot say that we have fully achieved this yet, but I can say that we have made progress, and we will continue to do so in conjunction with other stakeholders.
“While the report will generate painful memories for many people, it is all of our responsibility not to lose sight of our common humanity, not to destroy the good work already done, to conduct ourselves respectfully and with due restraint and empathy, and to provide support to those who need it.”
'Failed to employ safeguards'
President Jacob Zuma gave a summary of the commission's report on Thursday night.
Besides recommending that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega must face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office, the commission found that Lonmin did not use its best endeavours to resolve the disputes that arose between itself and its workers who participated in the unprotected strike and between the strikers and workers who did not participate in the strike.
"It also did not respond appropriately to the threat of and outbreak of violence," Zuma said.
"Lonmin also failed to employ sufficient safeguards and measures to ensure the safety of its employees."
He said the commission found that Lonmin also insisted that its employees were who not striking should come to work when it knew it was not in the position to protect them from strikers.
"It also criticised Lonmin's undertaking with regards to social and labour plans," Zuma said.
The commission recommended that Lonmin’s failure to comply with the housing obligations under the social and labour plans should be drawn to the attention of the Department of Mineral Resources, which should take steps to enforce the performance of these obligations by the company.
Ahmed Areff, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/We-have-worked-hard-to-improve-conditions-Lonmin-CEO-20150625
Johannesburg - While the report by the Marikana Commission found that Lonmin had failed to ensure the safety of its workers and did not comply with housing obligations for them, the company said it had worked hard to improve conditions over the last two-and-a-half years.
“As a company we have worked hard over the past two-and-a-half years to build a more open, transparent and mutually trustworthy environment, and in the process make Lonmin a safer, better place to work," CEO Ben Magara said in a statement.
"We have placed particular emphasis on living conditions and employee indebtedness, two burning issues that we believe will make a profound impact on the well-being of our employees. Much work has been done in this regard."
He said this was in addition to the assistance the company rendered to the widows and children of the employees who died in 2012.
"While we can never replace their loved ones, we have offered employment opportunities to their families and every child of school going age is a beneficiary of the 1608 Education Trust. This is in addition to the statutory pay-outs from pension and life funds."
Magara said Lonmin gave its full support to the commission.
"Its findings will need our detailed consideration before we take further action and before we provide our considered responses," he said.
"We as a company have already moved a long way towards building a more open, transparent and mutually trusting environment. I cannot say that we have fully achieved this yet, but I can say that we have made progress, and we will continue to do so in conjunction with other stakeholders.
“While the report will generate painful memories for many people, it is all of our responsibility not to lose sight of our common humanity, not to destroy the good work already done, to conduct ourselves respectfully and with due restraint and empathy, and to provide support to those who need it.”
'Failed to employ safeguards'
President Jacob Zuma gave a summary of the commission's report on Thursday night.
Besides recommending that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega must face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office, the commission found that Lonmin did not use its best endeavours to resolve the disputes that arose between itself and its workers who participated in the unprotected strike and between the strikers and workers who did not participate in the strike.
"It also did not respond appropriately to the threat of and outbreak of violence," Zuma said.
"Lonmin also failed to employ sufficient safeguards and measures to ensure the safety of its employees."
He said the commission found that Lonmin also insisted that its employees were who not striking should come to work when it knew it was not in the position to protect them from strikers.
"It also criticised Lonmin's undertaking with regards to social and labour plans," Zuma said.
The commission recommended that Lonmin’s failure to comply with the housing obligations under the social and labour plans should be drawn to the attention of the Department of Mineral Resources, which should take steps to enforce the performance of these obligations by the company.
Ahmed Areff, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/We-have-worked-hard-to-improve-conditions-Lonmin-CEO-20150625
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
Phiyega must be suspended - IFP
Johannesburg - The Inkatha Freedom Party wants national police commissioner Riah Phiyega and all police officials involved in the 2012 Marikana shooting to be suspended with immediate effect.
This followed the release of the report into the shooting in Marikana where 34 mineworkers were killed when police opened fire on them.
President Jacob Zuma read out a summary of the findings and recommendations from the Marikana commission on Thursday evening, almost three months after receiving the report.
"The summarised findings of the report clearly indicate grave tactical and judgmental errors on the side of the national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and many other SAPS members involved in the tragedy at Lonmin mine," IFP MP Albert Mncwango said in a statement.
"The IFP has always contended that national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, was never fit to hold office as she did not have the requisite training and experience coming, as she did, from a civilian background."
The IFP also criticised the commission's finding that the executive could not be held accountable. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and then police minister Nathi Mthethwa and mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu were let off scot-free.
"We find this hard to believe given the clear involvement of some members of the executive in this matter," said Mncwango.
"We shall conduct a full study of the report as soon as it is available."
Genevieve Quintal, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Phiyega-must-be-suspended-IFP-20150625
Johannesburg - The Inkatha Freedom Party wants national police commissioner Riah Phiyega and all police officials involved in the 2012 Marikana shooting to be suspended with immediate effect.
This followed the release of the report into the shooting in Marikana where 34 mineworkers were killed when police opened fire on them.
President Jacob Zuma read out a summary of the findings and recommendations from the Marikana commission on Thursday evening, almost three months after receiving the report.
"The summarised findings of the report clearly indicate grave tactical and judgmental errors on the side of the national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and many other SAPS members involved in the tragedy at Lonmin mine," IFP MP Albert Mncwango said in a statement.
"The IFP has always contended that national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, was never fit to hold office as she did not have the requisite training and experience coming, as she did, from a civilian background."
The IFP also criticised the commission's finding that the executive could not be held accountable. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and then police minister Nathi Mthethwa and mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu were let off scot-free.
"We find this hard to believe given the clear involvement of some members of the executive in this matter," said Mncwango.
"We shall conduct a full study of the report as soon as it is available."
Genevieve Quintal, News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Phiyega-must-be-suspended-IFP-20150625
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Messages
- 105,603
Marikana: What you should know
1. At least 44 people died - 34 on one day - when police and striking mineworkers clashed at the Lonmin Mine in Rustenburg in the North West. The battle lasted from August 11 and came to blows on August 16, and claimed not just lives, but left many injured.
2. When President Jacob Zuma on Thursday evening read his summary of the almost 600-page long finding by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, it was the culmination of hard-fought battles, even through the courts, to have the report released.
3. The recommendation by retired Judge Ian Farlam and his team made it clear there should be an inquiry into fitness of the National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega and North West Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo to hold office.
4. The Commission was tasked on August 29 2012 to enquire into and make findings and recommendations concerning the conduct of Lonmin, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Department of Mineral Resources and other government departments, as well as individuals and groupings.
5. Not only the police, but Lonmin got a lashing in the report: They insisted that non-striking employees report for work knowing full well they were not in a position to protect them from attacks by strikers. The mine's implementation of undertakings with regards to the social and labour plans were also found lacking - underscoring the grievances by the striking miners.
6. With NUM wrongly advising drill operators about the wage negotiations, and Amcu's inability to control their members, the scene was set for a massive showdown.
7. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was heckled when he appeared before the commission by a group in the public gallery who accused him of having “blood” on his hands, got off scot-free, as did Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who was Police Minister at the time.
8. What was to become known as the Marikana Massacre, started on August 10 2012 as a wildcat strike by rock drillers who demanded a salary of R12 500 - reported at the time to be triple what they were earning monthly. In the end, the price paid by mineworkers was high - not only the loss of lives, but also for families left destitute.
9. The commission poked holes in the police plan to contain the striking workers, and showed them up not only as having been ill-equipped to handle the situation, but also as not telling the full truth about the disastrous incident.
10. The last chapter in the Marikana Massacre is yet to be written, but a new phase is starting with the recommendations that all the killings and assaults that took place between August 11 and 15 2012, should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for further investigation and to determine whether there is a basis for prosecution.
News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Marikana-What-you-should-know-20150625
1. At least 44 people died - 34 on one day - when police and striking mineworkers clashed at the Lonmin Mine in Rustenburg in the North West. The battle lasted from August 11 and came to blows on August 16, and claimed not just lives, but left many injured.
2. When President Jacob Zuma on Thursday evening read his summary of the almost 600-page long finding by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, it was the culmination of hard-fought battles, even through the courts, to have the report released.
3. The recommendation by retired Judge Ian Farlam and his team made it clear there should be an inquiry into fitness of the National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega and North West Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo to hold office.
4. The Commission was tasked on August 29 2012 to enquire into and make findings and recommendations concerning the conduct of Lonmin, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Department of Mineral Resources and other government departments, as well as individuals and groupings.
5. Not only the police, but Lonmin got a lashing in the report: They insisted that non-striking employees report for work knowing full well they were not in a position to protect them from attacks by strikers. The mine's implementation of undertakings with regards to the social and labour plans were also found lacking - underscoring the grievances by the striking miners.
6. With NUM wrongly advising drill operators about the wage negotiations, and Amcu's inability to control their members, the scene was set for a massive showdown.
7. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was heckled when he appeared before the commission by a group in the public gallery who accused him of having “blood” on his hands, got off scot-free, as did Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who was Police Minister at the time.
8. What was to become known as the Marikana Massacre, started on August 10 2012 as a wildcat strike by rock drillers who demanded a salary of R12 500 - reported at the time to be triple what they were earning monthly. In the end, the price paid by mineworkers was high - not only the loss of lives, but also for families left destitute.
9. The commission poked holes in the police plan to contain the striking workers, and showed them up not only as having been ill-equipped to handle the situation, but also as not telling the full truth about the disastrous incident.
10. The last chapter in the Marikana Massacre is yet to be written, but a new phase is starting with the recommendations that all the killings and assaults that took place between August 11 and 15 2012, should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for further investigation and to determine whether there is a basis for prosecution.
News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Marikana-What-you-should-know-20150625
supersunbird
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2005
- Messages
- 60,142
The commission is obviously very lenient on the strikers fault in this, from the updated I have read... why would Lonmin have to protect the non-striking workers from attacks by strikers? BECAUSE the strikers are violent...
Creag
The Boar's Rock
- Joined
- May 19, 2009
- Messages
- 43,527
Here is a link to the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry - http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-zuma-releases-marikana-commission-report - the link is in the first line of the article. It is in PDF format and 646 pages for anyone wanting to peruse of the finer points of the findings.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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Gareth Newham (from the ISS) made a good point yesterday. The commission didn't hear testimony from a single police officer that was actually there, on the ground, doing the shooting.
What a huge, glaring oversight.
What a huge, glaring oversight.
cybershark
Expert Member
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What happened to the muti fool who instigated them to charge at the police?
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
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Hmmm. I'm sure I remember one or two. They even tried to apologise to the families but the families were going to pieces so much.
Will try and find one of the references in this thread.