Farlam Commission continues

The Farlam Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last year, is expected to continue on Friday.

 

On Thursday, North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe told the commission that he pleaded with officers to be tolerant towards striking Marikana miners last year.

 

"I pleaded with officers to be tolerant... I even used the Andries Tatane case to show how we can be tolerant in exercising our duties," Mpembe told the commission.

 

Tatane died in 2011 when police fired rubber bullets during a protest by residents of Ficksburg in the Free State.

 

Louis Gumbi, for the family of murdered Warrant Officer Sello Leepaku and wounded Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi, said several officers indicated in notebook entries that Mpembe gave instructions to block marching protesters.

 

Thirty four people, almost all striking mineworkers, were killed on August 16 while police tried to disperse and disarm them.

 

Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

 

-Sapa