Share

Marikana response 'not operationally sound'

Pretoria - Attempts to disarm striking miners at Marikana in August 2012 were not "operationally sound", a public order policing expert told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.

"If it had been operationally sound to do it on that day, then it should have been done," Gary White told the commission's hearings in Pretoria.

White, a former chief superintendent with Northern Ireland's police, was asked by the SA Human Rights Commission to provide a professional analysis of the Marikana shootings.

Could have waited

"My point all along has been that it was not operationally sound to do it [attempting to disarm the thousands of protesters]. Perhaps it could have waited," White said to questioning by Ishmael Semenya, for the police.

Semenya said there had been a clear instruction to police officers at Marikana to disarm the protesting miners on 16 August 2012.

White responded: "That has been my point, I question the how and when."

The inquiry, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West, two years ago.

Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with the police, more than 70 were wounded, and 250 were arrested on 16 August 2012. 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.

'Inappropriate force'

Semenya said if it was established that the use of stun grenades and teargas provoked an attack on police on 13 August, then the officers were left with limited non-lethal methods to manage the protesters.

On that day Warrant Officers Hendrick Tsietsi and Sello Ronnie Lepaaku were hacked to death in a confrontation with protesting miners. Several protesters were killed.

White said in all crowd management situations, police had to expect their actions to provoke a response.

"From evidence, it appears the crowd was being escorted by police officers. An officer, it seems, fired stun grenades in advance of any fracas breaking out.

"That fracas perhaps came as a result of the use of inappropriate force," White said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 388 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 536 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE