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Farlam to visit Marikana

Pretoria - Several areas linked to the August 2012 shooting of Lonmin mineworkers will be inspected next week, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry announced on Monday.

"We are confining our attention to the events of the 16th [August 2012]. We anticipate that it will probably take us the whole day," inquiry chairperson retired judge Ian Farlam said at the public hearings in Pretoria.

"Parties are requested to communicate with evidence leaders which spots they would want to be inspected by close of business on Wednesday. We have held other inspections earlier."

The inspection in loco would be held next Monday.

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, in August 2012.

Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police on 16 August.

Over 70 people were wounded and over 200 were arrested. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed.

During an October 2012 inspection, Farlam and his team were led by two North West crime scene experts around the area where the 34 were shot dead.

Warrant Officer Patrick Thamae pointed out where bodies were found near the hill where the mineworkers had assembled in the days leading up to 16 August.

Another inspection was done in March 2013 near Lonmin's K3 shaft. The commission's members retraced the steps of miners and police officers on 13 August.

On that day Warrant officers Hendrick Tsietsi and Sello Ronnie Lepaaku were hacked to death in a confrontation with protesting mineworkers.

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