Police commissioner Riah Phiyegais is scheduled to testify today before the Farlam commission of inquiry into last year's Marikana shooting in North West.

"She will be called to give evidence on the role played by the South African Police Service on the events that are the subject of the Marikana Commission of Inquiry," commission spokesman Tshepo Mahlangu said on Tuesday.

Mahlangu said Phiyega would be called by lawyers representing the police.

Phiyega was criticised in August after she said police officers should not be sorry about the shooting, near Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, which left 34 protesting miners dead.

The commission is probing the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana. On August 16, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 injured when the police opened fire while trying to disperse a group gathered on a hill near the mine.

Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.