President Jacob Zuma has announced a three-member judicial commission of inquiry to probe the mine violence in which 44 people died in Marikana, North West.

The commission's mandate, among other things, was to probe the conduct of the mining company Lonmin, Zuma told reporters in Pretoria on Thursday.

It would consider whether Lonmin responded appropriately to the threat of an outbreak of violence on its premises.

"It will probe whether Lonmin exercised its best endeavours to resolve any disputes which may have arisen," said Zuma.

The commission would also examine the conduct of the SA Police Service, focusing on the facts and circumstances which gave rise to the use of force, and whether it was reasonable and justifiable.

Thirty-four striking workers were shot dead and 78 were wounded last Thursday when police tried to disperse a group of protesting miners who had gathered on a hill near the mine.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed in violent protests at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana.

Zuma said the commission would also probe the conduct of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and its rival, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Retired Supreme Court of Appeal judge Ian Farlam would chair the commission. Farlam had worked as a judge in the Orange Free State division, and the Cape provincial division. He would be joined by senior advocates Bantubonke Tokota and Pingla Hemraj.

Tokota has acted as a judge in the Eastern Cape Labour Court and the Transvaal provincial division.

Hemraj has also acted as a judge in the high courts of Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown.

Zuma said the commission would complete its work within four months, and had to submit its final report within a month of completing its work.

"This commission will have the necessary powers, including the power to enter and search premises, secure the attendance of witnesses and compel the production of documents," said Zuma.