A JOINT operation between the army and police, and a misdiagnosis of labour-related issues led to the Marikana massacre, Advocate Dali Mpofu argued yesterday.
Mpofu was cross-examining national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry in Centurion.
Tempers flared between the two. At some point Mpofu, exasperated by what he alleged was Phiyega's apparent evasiveness, came close to accusing the police commissioner of perjury.
Mpofu said the South African Police Service had joined forces with the South African Air Force because the wildcat strike was classified as criminal. During this time, the police operational strategy was upgraded to "Stage 6, which involved the cordoning off and searching of hostels", he said.
In the move to disarm striking mineworkers, Mpofu argued, the police had "engaged maximum force", culminating in the death of African National Congress councillor Paulina Masuhlo, who was caught in the crossfire [of rubber bullets].
Masuhlo later died from leg and abdominal wounds in hospital on September 15.
Mpofu further argued that the police had taken Lonmin's view that "this was not simply an industrial dispute but criminal", also citing Cyril Ramaphosa's affidavit to the commission.
But Phiyega stuck to her guns, saying that the police were meant to bring stability to a volatile situation that had been prompted by an unprotected strike.
"Our involvement was purely to restore public order," Phiyega said. "We only utilised equipment from the [South African] Air Force, not personnel."
Asked if she knew what the underlying causes and grievances of strikers were, Phiyega resolutely said this was public knowledge that workers were demanding R12500 from their employer. - dludlas@sowetan.co.za
Mpofu blames police and army
A JOINT operation between the army and police, and a misdiagnosis of labour-related issues led to the Marikana massacre, Advocate Dali Mpofu argued yesterday.
Mpofu was cross-examining national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry in Centurion.
Tempers flared between the two. At some point Mpofu, exasperated by what he alleged was Phiyega's apparent evasiveness, came close to accusing the police commissioner of perjury.
Mpofu said the South African Police Service had joined forces with the South African Air Force because the wildcat strike was classified as criminal. During this time, the police operational strategy was upgraded to "Stage 6, which involved the cordoning off and searching of hostels", he said.
In the move to disarm striking mineworkers, Mpofu argued, the police had "engaged maximum force", culminating in the death of African National Congress councillor Paulina Masuhlo, who was caught in the crossfire [of rubber bullets].
Masuhlo later died from leg and abdominal wounds in hospital on September 15.
Mpofu further argued that the police had taken Lonmin's view that "this was not simply an industrial dispute but criminal", also citing Cyril Ramaphosa's affidavit to the commission.
But Phiyega stuck to her guns, saying that the police were meant to bring stability to a volatile situation that had been prompted by an unprotected strike.
"Our involvement was purely to restore public order," Phiyega said. "We only utilised equipment from the [South African] Air Force, not personnel."
Asked if she knew what the underlying causes and grievances of strikers were, Phiyega resolutely said this was public knowledge that workers were demanding R12500 from their employer. - dludlas@sowetan.co.za
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