Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on 16 August 2012. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week. This after Marikana miners’ strike grabbed international attention following a series of violent incidents between the police and strikers.
The first protests started on 10 August 2012 at a mine owned by Lonmin in the Marikana area, close to Rustenburg in the North West province.
On the afternoon of 16 August, members of the South African Police Service opened fire on a group of strikers. 34 people were killed, and at least 78 were wounded. The incident was the single most lethal use of force by South African security forces against civilians since the end of apartheid.
President Zuma announced the composition of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Marikana tragedy and its terms of reference on 23 August 2012. The Commission was appointed in terms of section 84(2) (f) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
It has been directed to investigate matters of public, national and international concern arising out of the events in Marikana which led to the deaths of approximately 44 people, the injury of more than 70 persons and the arrest of more than 250 people.
The commission is chaired by retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Ian Farlam.
The commission began on 01 October 2012.
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