Marikana cops in court for murder

SHOOTING: TOP BRASS AND EIGHT OTHERS GET BAIL

Accused of the deaths of mine workers, police in incident in August 2012.

Former North West provincial deputy police commissioner MajorGeneral William Mpembe and eight other police officers appeared briefly in the North West High Court yesterday.

They are facing charges relating to a shooting incident in Marikana near Rustenburg in August 2012.

Mpembe, now head of security at a mining house in Marikana, is accused of the murder of Semi Jokanisi, Tembelakhe Mati, Warrant Officer Hendrik Tsietsi Monene, and Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaauku.

He is charged with retired colonel Salmon Johannes Vermaak, 53, who with Constable Nkosana Mguye, 38, Warrant Officer Masilo Mogale, 49, Warrant Officer Katlego Joseph Sekgweleya, 39, and Khazamola Phillip Makhubela, 49, are accused of the murder of Pumzile Sokhanyile.

Mpembe and Vermaak were granted R5 000 bail each while Mguye, Mogale, Sekgweleya and Makhubela were released on R2 000 bail each.

The 55-year-old Mpembe faces other charges of defeating the ends of justice, contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Act, as well as contravention of the Commission Act. Vermaak also faces charges of defeating the ends of justice and contravention of the Commission Act. In this case he is charged along with Gideon van Zyl, Dingaan Madoda and Oupa Pule.

Van Zyl, Madoda and Pule are accused of defeating the ends of justice and contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act.

They allegedly failed to disclose that mineworker Modisaotsile van Wyk Sagalala died in custody while being transported to Lonmin premises on August 16, 2012.

The case was postponed to September 14. –ANA