LRC concerned about postponements

Legal Resources Centre (LRC) lawyers expressed concern on Thursday about the Farlam Commission of Inquiry's repeated postponements.

 

"We, the LRC, are concerned about maintaining public confidence in the effectiveness and credibility of the [inquiry], which could be seriously eroded by repeated postponements," George Bizos, for the LRC, read from a statement at the inquiry sitting in Pretoria.

 

The LRC supported the call by Dali Mpofu, for the miners arrested and wounded during last year's unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, to get State funding.

 

"At this stage we must place on record that, in accordance with the instructions of our clients, we will no longer be appearing before the commission or participating in its proceedings until the issue of funding of legal representation of the parties has been resolved," Bizos said.

 

Mpofu had asked that the public hearings be postponed to August19. He said he needed time to approach the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether the State should fund his team.

 

The High Court in Pretoria rejected his request for State funding last week.

   

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, asked lawyers participating in the public hearings for their views on the postponement. The lawyers present on Thursday said they supported it.

 

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest in Marikana. Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16.

 

Ten people, including two policeofficers, were killed in the preceding week.

   

- Sapa