Police tied the hands of some wounded protesters after the shooting that left 34 miners dead near Marikana, North West, on August 16, a senior officer said on Wednesday.

Lt-Col Duncan Scott told the Farlam commission of inquiry into the events that this was done to secure one of the crime scenes.

Police either handcuffed or cable-tied the hands of the wounded who were lying near dangerous weapons, in order to make the scene safe for medical personnel, he said.

Scott was narrating a police presentation of events in the commission’s public hearings in Rustenburg, North West.

He showed photographs of an apparently unconscious miner lying with his hands behind his back, with a firearm, panga and a large knife in close proximity.

Scott showed three video clips depicting what he described as “perceived rituals” conducted two days before the shooting.

A leader, wearing a green blanket around his shoulders, appeared to be sprinkling something on the rows of seated protesters while another man performed a dance.

Thousands of protesters were visible, sitting in a tight formation on the koppie.

“The inyanga (traditional herbalist) seems to have some kind of contraption tied to his right arm,” Scott said.

Commission chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, asked whether the inyanga had been identified.

Scott said he was not at liberty to discuss this, except to confirm that an investigation had been launched.

In one of the video clips, the man in the green blanket shouts through a loudhailer, while another protester is seen urinating towards the police.

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Sun May 19 10:21:40 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 14, 2012

Floccino

Tired of this Marikana issues.
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Nov 14, 2012

malemaforpresident

He showed photographs of an apparently unconscious miner lying with his hands behind his back, with a firearm, panga and a large knife in close proximity.
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This is Pure brutality
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Nov 14, 2012

antie

malemaforpresidents, I agree. Only brutes would go to a striek armed with firearms, pangas and knives.
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Nov 14, 2012

Maatli

@ Floccino
I guesse you were not affected by the strike thats why you are so tired if this issue. Some of us will want this issue to be solved accordingly so that our fathers, brothers and uncle can rest in peace.
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