Legal aid must fund Marikana miners
The High Court in Johannesburg ruled on Monday that Legal Aid must fund the legal costs of miners and their families represented at the inquiry into last year's shooting at Marikana.
The application was bought by Dali Mpofu, who had been representing the miners who were wounded and arrested at the shooting on August 16 last year.
He had withdrawn recently as their legal representative saying funding had run out.
Mpofu's attorney Musi Msimang hailed the ruling as "good news for justice".
Justice department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe found the ruling, in respect of his office, "acceptable".
As an independent body, Legal Aid would have the options of either abiding by the ruling by paying the legal fees, or challenging the ruling.
Comment from them was not immediately available.
The Farlam Commission of Inquiry is investigating the circumstances of the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin Platinum's operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West last year.
The police shot dead 34 people, mostly striking workers, wounded 70, and arrested 250 on August 16, 2012. In the preceding week, 10 people died, including two policemen and two security guards.
-Sapa