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Johannesburg - The relationship between the police and the community of Marikana in the North West has improved since the August 2012 unrest that left 44 people dead, police said on Thursday.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on 16 August that year while 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.
Police spokesperson Thulani Ngubane said the police and community had implemented several strategies to improve safety and security in the platinum belt, including introducing the Mine Crime Combating Forum (MCCF).
The forum was formed on this day a year ago.
"Some of the MCCF projects include training of all stakeholders in many of the relevant and applicable laws like the Gatherings Act of 1993, the National Sports and Recreation Act of 2010 and the Dangerous Weapons Act of 2013," said Ngubane.
"The biggest mandate of the MCCF is to foster peace and security."
He said the forum had restored the community's confidence in the police and brought peace and calm into the area.
"The biggest task facing the MCCF is to draw up an acceptable plan by all stakeholders that would curb union revelry issues in the platinum belt," said Ngubane.
North West police commissioner Lieutenant Genearl Zukiswa Mbombo said while they had not yet completely changed the crime situation in Marikana, the MCCF was progressive.
"Communities themselves must know that we can never win crime if it is left to the police alone," said Mbombo.
"We will camp permanently in Marikana until the rule
of law is completely restored," she said.
