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Cape Town – Playing the "blame game" over the Marikana massacre has not benefited anyone, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said on Wednesday.
"We should all be working towards reconciling and stabilising our people around this particular tragic incident but also finding closure in one form or the other," he told journalists.
"What does that mean legally? I don’t know."
He had earlier given a presentation to Parliament’s portfolio committee on police on a SA Police Service transformation plan following recommendations by the Marikana Commission of Inquiry.
The commission, headed by retired judge Ian Farlam, investigated the deaths of 44 people killed during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, in August 2012.
Families of the slain miners had filed papers at the High Court in Pretoria, wanting compensation for loss of financial support, for grief and emotional shock, medical expenses, and a formal apology from Nhleko.
According to City Press, mineworkers who were wounded and arrested were claiming millions from the state, mining company Lonmin and Protea Coin Security.
Nhleko was asked on Wednesday about compensation and whether he would prefer to see an out of court settlement.
"I am unable to say to you at this stage whether there will be compensation or no compensation. It’s a legal matter so it’s not about what I would like to see."
Last month his spokesperson Musa Zondi said the families’ court bid for compensation would help bring closure and that he would welcome efforts to make good on any decision by the courts.
