Phiyega tweaked media statement on
Marikana killings, inquiry hears
2016-05-05
14:20
Mpho Raborife, News24
Pretoria - Suspended national police commissioner
Riah Phiyega changed a statement prepared by police shortly before addressing
media about the 34 strikers killed in Marikana on August 16, 2012.
She removed reference to the number of people
killed and added that police were forced to use "maximum force" to
defend themselves, Lindela Mashigo, a brigadier at the time and responsible for
the police's communications department, told the inquiry into Phiyega’s fitness
to hold office.
On August 17, Phiyega dictated to him the changes in the statement
to be read to journalists about the previous day’s events.
Phiyega wanted a sentence inserted stating that the striking
miners wielded dangerous weapons and had shot at officers trying to arrest
them.
Mashigo was at Lonmin’s Marikana mine with Phiyega, North West
commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo, and her Gauteng counterpart Mzwandile Petros, when
he was asked to change the statement. Mbombo and Petros scrutinised it and
Phiyega approved it.
Two paragraphs in the original statement read:
"When the police started deploying the barbed wire fencing, a
militant group from the protesters armed with weapons, pangas, spears, axes and
firearms hastily flanked the vehicles deploying the wire. They were met by
members from the police who tried to repost the advance with stun grenades. The
attempt was unsuccessful and the police members had to employ force to protect
themselves from the charging group. This resulted in the death of 16 protesters
with 13 wounded at the scene."
This was changed to remove reference to the types of weapons the
strikers had and to the number of people killed and wounded. An addition made
was that police used stun grenades, a water canon, and teargas on the
protesters.
The next paragraph in the original statement read:
"The dispersion action had commenced at this time and the
protesters were driven from their stronghold to a high bushy ground in the
close vicinity. The police members encircled the area and attempted to force
the protesters out by means of water canons, rubber bullets and stun grenades.
The police advance to arrest the armed protesters, resulting in police officers
having to again employ force to defend themselves at close quarters. This resulted
in 13 more protesters’ deaths and 15 more wounded at the second incident.”
'Forced to utilise maximum force'
This was changed to add that after police tried to force
protesters out, "the militant group stormed towards the police, firing
shots and wielding dangerous weapons", Mashigo told the inquiry.
Phiyega instructed him to insert a sentence that "police
retreated systematically and were forced to utilise maximum force to defend
themselves".
Again, reference to the number of dead was removed.
The board of inquiry is examining Phiyega’s conduct during the
Marikana strike and her fitness to hold office. President Jacob Zuma
established it in September last year and Judge Neels Claassen was appointed to
chair it.
The inquiry followed a recommendation by the Farlam Commission of
Inquiry, which investigated the deaths of 34 people during the strike-related
unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, in August 2012.
Police shot the striking miners on August 16, apparently while
trying to disperse them and end the strike. Ten people, including two police
officers and two Lonmin security guards, were killed during the previous week.
Zuma suspended Phiyega in October last year, over 14 allegations
of misconduct.
The inquiry adjourned for the day. Phiyega's lawyer, William
Mokhari SC, was expected to cross-examine Mashigo on Friday.
