President Zuma gives a summary of the Marikana report

Jaimie-faith Poonah

26 June 2015

President Jacob Zuma described the events of August 16^th 2012 as a horrendous tragedy that has no place in a democracy. He made this statement as he addressed the nation last night giving a summary of the Marikana report.

President Zuma said the full report by the Marikana Commission of Inquiry is more than 600 hundred pages long and therefore it will be published in the GCIS and the presidency’s websites and in the government gazette.

President Zuma talks about recommendation made by the commission concerning National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega.

President Zuma said the commission also recommends that all the killings and assaults that took place from the 11 to the15 August 2012, should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further investigation and to determine whether there is a basis for prosecution.

Zuma added that the commission has also recommended that there must be an inquiry into the fitness to hold office of the National Police Commissioner as well as the North West Provincial Police Commissioner.

Meanwhile the report also found that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was not the cause of the massacre in Marikana. This as the Counsel for Injured and Arrested Persons alleged that Mr Cyril Ramaphosa is the cause of the Marikana massacre and that he must be held accountable for the death of 34 miners.

Spokesperson for the Deputy President Ronnie Mamoepa said Deputy President Ramaphosa will indeed start at the contents of the report and in due cause provide this comment.

Mamoepa added that Deputy President Ramaphosa voluntarily gave evidence to the Farlam Commission with a view to assist in the commission to reach its conclusions.