Nhleko to make announcement on Marikana inquiry report

29th April 2016 By: News24Wire

Nhleko to make announcement on Marikana inquiry report

Riah Phiyega
Photo by: GovtZA

Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko was expected to make an announcement regarding the Farlam Commission of Inquiry's recommendations later on Friday. It would address how police intend implementing the inquiry's recommendations, he told a South African Human Rights Commission dialogue in Johannesburg on human rights and policing.The commission, headed by the retired Judge Ian Farlam, investigated the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, in August 2012. On August 16, police shot dead 34 miners during an attempt to end their strike.

The recommendations included an inquiry into the fitness to hold office of suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, for the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate several of the killings, and whether police exceeded the bounds of self and private defence in their response.

Nhleko said human rights could not be enjoyed without responsibility.

He expressed his disappointment with the high number of police officers that had been killed on duty recently. "While the police officers form part of a very important constitutional goal, they are ordinary human beings who form part of the very communities they seek to protect. Many officers put their lives in danger and yet there has been a growing trend to kill our officers while on duty."