Inquiry hears national management ordered advance on Marikana miners
The Claassen Board of Inquiry heard from its first witness on Wednesday, on the second day of proceedings.
Captain Monwabisi Ntlati told the inquiry the order to encircle, disarm and disperse striking mineworkers at Marikana in 2012 came from national police management.
Ntlati was part of the tactical response team on 16August 2012, when 34 striking workers were shot and killed.
The inquiry is looking into suspended National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega's fitness to hold office.
Captain Ntlati explained they were told by their superior, Lt-Col Duncan Scott, that national management wanted them to disarm and disperse the mineworkers.
"During the briefing we were informed that the national management instructed that the police must act against the armed strikers as they had to be disarmed and dispersed," Ntlati said.
Speaking through an interpreter, Ntlali explained that he understood that action had to be taken as ordered by police management.
This statement is in contradiction with what Scott told the Farlam Commission on Inquiry.
Establishing exactly who made the orders to take action at Marikana is an important part of this board's investigation. It could either implicate or exonerate Phiyega.