Marikana massacre: state declares readiness to start trial
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in North West has declared its readiness to proceed with the trial in a case against 17 mineworkers accused of murder in the 2012 Marikana massacre.
The 17 accused appeared in the High Court sitting at the Mogwase Regional Court on Wednesday for a pre-trial conference pending the decision of the North Gauteng High Court on a review application brought by the mineworkers challenging the NDPP’s decision to charge them.
The accused are charged with 7 counts of murder, 4 of malicious damage to property, 4 of robbery, 3 for unlawful possession of firearms, and 3 for unlawful possession of ammunition.
The charges relate to the labour disputes between mine workers of Lonmin Karee Mine and Impala Platinum Mine (Implats) in 2012.
It's been a decade since police massacred 34 striking workers on a Marikana koppie in Rustenburg.
Another 10 people, including police officers and security guards, were killed in the events that unfolded before August the 16th.
NPA regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame says the matter was set for trial from 6 to 10 March, but one of the accused was not present on the first day and the matter was rolled over to the next day.
"The state indicated on the record that it was ready to proceed with the trial, however, the defence attorneys are reluctant to proceed as they want the matter to be postponed or struck off the roll, pending the outcome of the review application they registered with the Gauteng Division of the High Court, to have all charges against them withdrawn,” says Mamothame.
“The state opposes this move as an order was granted by the North West Judge President for trial to resume amid the pending review application."
Mamothame says the state also believes it’s in the interest of justice for the trial to commence, considering the interest of the families.
"Both the state and the accused’s legal representatives have completed their arguments and the sitting judge is expected to make a judgement on 10 March on the postponement, or the court exercises its inherent jurisdiction to strike the matter off the roll.”
“The state emphasised its readiness and that of its witnesses to testify in the matter," he says.
One of the accused is currently serving a life sentence for murder while the 16 others are out on warning.
They are expected back in court when judgement is passed.
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