Commission to decide on move
THE Marikana commission of inquiry has postponed arguments on whether the commission should be moved to Gauteng, to next Monday, when advocate Dali Mpofu returns.
THE Marikana commission of inquiry has postponed arguments on whether the commission should be moved from Rustenburg to Gauteng until next Monday when Dali Mpofu, legal representative for the Lonmin strikers, returns.
Mr Mpofu was attacked and stabbed in East London last week in a suspected mugging incident.
Mr Mpofu has complained that it was costly to travel to Rustenburg for the commission. However, those opposing the move have argued that the issue of costs was immaterial because justice had to be served from any corner of the country.
Four Rustenburg municipalities were part of the application to oppose the change of venue. Having the commission in Rustenburg was seen as an opportunity to profile the city, which is one of the fastest-growing in SA.
There were also economic opportunities for people in the hospitality industry.
Among those opposed to the move is the Bapo ba Mogale community in Rustenburg. They are a party to the proceedings in the commission, arguing that the land on which Lonmin was operating in Marikana belonged to their tribe. The matter is expected to be dealt with in the second phase of the commission’s work, which will also look at the living conditions of the mineworkers in Marikana as part of identifying the moral responsibilities of all parties involved in the deadly strike.
However, yesterday the community seemed to be beset with divisions. Lawyers representing the leader of the traditional council dismissed an application lodged by an administrator — appointed by the government of North West — to block the proposed move to Gauteng, which was submitted in the name of the Bapo ba Mogale royal family.
Attorneys for the group associated with the council chief said yesterday in a letter to commission chairman Ian Farlam that the administrator had no powers to file an opposing application under the royal family’s name. They said the administrator was acting on a “frolic” of his own.
The provincial government had appointed an administrator to oversee the finances of the traditional council, with its leader stripped of his powers. Part of the community has rejected the administrator and this was evident at yesterday’s hearing.
Commission spokesman Tshepo Mahlangu said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe would only decide on the proposed move after the matter had been debated within the commission.