4 NW cops acquitted of charges in Marikana massacre
Former North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe and three other police office have been acquitted of all charges in the 2012 Marikana massacre.
The North West High Court in Mahikeng handed down its judgment on Monday, after a protracted trial.
Mpembe’s co-accused included Gideon van Zyl‚ Dingaan Madoda and Oupa Pule.
The four were accused of concealing information on circumstances surrounding the death of a miner who died in police custody during the Marikana unrest.
They were also acquitted on charges of contravening the IPAD Act by not reporting the death of a miner in police custody and also contravening the Commission‘s Act by not disclosing in their report the death of Modisaotsile Segalala in police custody.
Modisaotsile Sagalala was one of 34 miners gunned down by police during the clash at the infamous koppie.
Judge Ronald Hendricks ruled that the state failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the province said it’s still studying the judgment.
“The NPA will study the judgment in order to make an informed decision after the court found the four policemen not guilty of the three charges they were facing relating to the death of a miner in Marikana,” said spokesperson Henry Mamothame.
ALSO READ:
