Police Commissioner Phiyega laughs during Marikana
inquiry
October 24 2012 at 09:44am
By SAPA
By SAPA
INLSA
Police Commissioner
General Riah Phiyega. File photo: Etienne Creux
North West - National Police Commissioner
Riah Phiyega reportedly laughed and joked as footage of the killing of 34
miners in a clash with police was screened at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry,
The Times reported on Wednesday.
Phiyega reportedly joked with a state
law adviser as a prelude to the killings was screened at the Rustenburg Civic
Centre.
Surrounded by her senior officers,
Phiyega smiled as she watched.
It was only after screams of horror
echoed across the room, as the footage was played without any warning, that
Phiyega's “humorous demeanour changed to that of an ice queen, blatantly
ignoring the wailing families”, the report continued.
“...Phiyega stared straight ahead,
ignoring a widow screaming at her for answers about her husband's death,” the
newspaper reported.
“Why did they do this? Why did your
policemen kill my husband? What did he do?” the woman screamed at her.
Later she was seen comforting one of
the widows of the two policemen killed ahead of the August 16 shooting.
Asked repeatedly for comment on why she
did not help those upset, and what she had been joking about, Phiyega said: “I
am not here for that. I am here for the commission and the commission only.”
Bishop Jo Seroka, a talks facilitator
for the miners, said: “She sat there laughing and did nothing. You would expect
a sense of remorse and empathy which was non-existent.” -
Sapa
