THE National Union of Mineworkers called for the deployment of the army and believed the unprotected strike at Lonmin's Marikana mine was a criminal act, the Farlam Commission of inquiry was told in Rustenburg yesterday.

This revelation forced an early tea adjournment as NUM president Senzeni Zokwana contacted his general secretary Frans Baleni who was quoted in the statement presented by advocate Dali Mpofu.

Mpofu represents 94 miners who were injured and over 200 arrested during the August 16 police shooting at Lonmin.

The statement, dated August 13, was produced as evidence shortly after Zokwana was asked if NUM had called for the deployment of the army to curb the unprotected strike.

"We call for the deployment of a special task force or SANDF to deal decisively with criminal elements... We appeal for the deployment of a special task force before things get out of hand," the statement reads.

Zokwana said the statement's authenticity was confirmed by his office.

He said this would be the first time that the union had called for such action in any strike.

"It was because of the nature of the strike," he said.

"The statement was issued by NUM in frustration given the situation at Rustenburg but it doesn't constitute any collusion by anybody."

Zokwana's credibility was questioned yesterday and his "sweet-talk" of his union being a peaceful one dismissed as a farce.

This move by Mpofu - including his use of the Xhosa term uyaxoka (you are lying) - raised dust as Zokwana took offence.

Mpofu also pointed to an e-mail sent by a NUM official calling for "teamwork" during the strike. He said this proved there was an unholy alliance, which angered and provoked striking miners.

"We never ever had such teamwork. There was no meeting of minds. NUM was informed by its own policies," said Zokwana. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za