The DA has called for the head of Ian Farmer, the CEO of Lonmin Platinum, and the secretaries general of rival trade unions Amcu and NUM. DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko led the charge during the National Assembly's special debate on the Marikana massacre, saying the commission of inquiry should establish who ordered the police to use live ammunition.

Mazibuko said her party was concerned that nobody in government was ready to assume political responsibility for the bloodbath. "In most democracies, a crisis of this magnitude would have immediately precipitated the resignation of the minister."

Cope president Mosioua Lekota said the police's use of deadly force was an infringement on the constitutional right to life. "Who was leading? Who gave the orders? What intelligence report did the police have?" he asked.

The debate was almost derailed when Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu took aim at Lekota.

Shabangu accused Lekota of being "more brutal", saying he had unleashed soldiers on striking civilians in Khutsong in Gauteng when he was still minister of defence in the Thabo Mbeki administration.

Lekota denied it, saying: "This is unfounded. I have never sent soldiers to Khutsong to kill people, it never happened."

But Minster of Water Affairs Edna Molewa, who was involved in the Khutsong matter as the former premier of the North West province, testified against Lekota. "I am just enlightening the house that I am a living witness to that event. Former minister Lekota did that, I was there with him," she said.

Returning to the subject, Shabangu said it was wrong for mining communities such as Marikana to continue languishing in poverty while they observed the "conspicuous consumption by companies and mine bosses".

She called on the mining industry to change the way it dealt with socio-economic issues in mines and within mining communities.

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Wed May 22 17:50:28 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 22, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

What a show down in Parly yesterday, opposotion parties were on song, Lekota was on fire maan. The minister was so gatfol she said 'SHUTUUP". These are interesting times comrades in future you will learn that if have a three third majority you must use it. When the NATS were in power they used the power and you want to be reconcialatory with people who are not interested anymore, I told you comrades there are a lot of wolves here and you are trying to be sheeps julle gaan k@k!! You must plan a head
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Aug 22, 2012

lindsay

point scoring showdown
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Aug 22, 2012

Sinudeity_

The ANC/ANCYL have been inciting people to riot and protest for years now, for their own personal gain. And now when it comes back to bite them in the @ss, they refuse to accept any responsibility.

What is the mantra now?
No education before economic liberation?
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Aug 22, 2012

Sinudeity_

AMCU was formed after gwede, NUM general secretary at the time, held a kangaroo court lambasting Mathunjwa, which in turn formed AMCU.

And whenever the unions or the political parties are being challenged by competition (WCape protests, Marikana, DA youth subsidy march), they turn violent.

Everyone here is trying to blame someone else. But the fact is, its a culture of violence that is being perpetuated by the ruling party and all its minions and alliances.
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Aug 22, 2012

kayaaman

this is wat hapens wen u hire sum1 wit no police background to lead the SAPS!!! well done mr president

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Aug 22, 2012

lindsay

lekota was an anc minister at that time is susan shabangu trying to say it is an anc policy to massacre people?
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Aug 22, 2012

Makhosini0408

Good morning

All current poloticians, who are now at sixes and seven must be held accountable. After all they all rubber stamped Cele's unfortunate request to militarise the police. They all have the blood of the mines on their greasy hands. They must not patronise us and start pointing fingers.

Minister Shabangu. For once I agree Madam. All poloticians must shurrup (shut up).

I wished that all those idiots in parliament watched 3rd degree, to see how their creation, the green beret are brutalising and terrorising our communities.
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Aug 22, 2012

Shredder

@MorenaWaPolelo

What on earth is "three third majority"? Do you mean when the whole country has voted for ANC? Juju once mentioned something like this three third majority. Is it a Limpopo thing?

Ja nee.
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Aug 22, 2012

lamolath

under the leadership of jacob zuma...we see people being killed...
Nathi mthethwa was supposed to be fired instantly together with minister of education for limpopo text book.
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Aug 22, 2012

Charma

ANC government to be blame, we can not say this is not time to blame while the life of so many has been lost. The Police Minister and National Police Commissioner should just resign & be replaced by intellegent personnel
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