National police commissioner Riah Phiyega seemed to be the biggest loser in the report on the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, the miners’ lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, said on Thursday evening.
Mpofu, who represented the injured and arrested mineworkers at the Marikana inquiry, was responding to the release of the report by President Jacob Zuma on SABC.
Mpofu said the legal team intended on reading the full 600-page report. “[It] probably covers certain highlights of what the President wanted to take out [of the report],” Mpofu said during an interview with the public broadcaster following the President’s address.
“I think it would be prudent for us to read the 600-page report. That’s what we intend to do. We are hoping to read it in two days, not three months,” he said, in what seemed to be a jibe at Zuma.
The Marikana Commission, chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam, handed the final report to Zuma on March 31. Mpofu said he would be meeting with the injured and arrested mineworkers on Sunday.
Reflecting on what Zuma said, Mpofu said Phiyega was the “largest victim.” The report said Phiyega should face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office. He said the biggest question on everyone’s mind was how high up accountability was going to go. But Mpofu said this was only the first round and the matter would not rest here. Mpofu said he was disappointed that Zuma had not given 48 hours-notice before releasing the report as it was recommended by the Pretoria High Court There were many who believed Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was to blame for the shooting on August 16, 2012, when 34 mineworkers were killed. However, the commission found that Ramaphosa could not be held accountable for the deaths of the striking workers.
Asked if he was disappointed in this finding, Mpofu replied: “It’s not for me to be disappointed or overjoyed.
“It was the clients’ view that police there were under some influence. We were able to secure evidence in other people’s views… On the very first day they were speculating this was the case… I know they hold some strong views… this is why I’m saying this is not the last of this.”
Mpofu said he was disappointed that Zuma had not given 48 hours-notice before releasing the report as it was recommended by the Pretoria High Court.
“If we had been given that notice, we would have been there in Marikana,” he said.
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