‘Identify cops who shot 34 miners’

THE Right2Know Campaign (R2K) and Marikana Support Campaign want to know from the police if any of its members involved in the killing of 34 Marikana miners have been identified and if steps are being taken against those who exceeded their powers.

The two organisations this week filed a request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act ( Paia), and are expecting a response early next month. This followed last month’s release of the report of the Marikana commission of inquiry into the police killings on August 16, 2012, and the 10 deaths amid labour tensions in the preceding week.

“We want to know what has the SAPS done to identify those involved,” said R2K spokesman Dale McKinley.

“What can be done immediately is the suspension and hopefully the dismissal of the police officers that can be identified.”

He added it was important to discover whether the police were investigating, or in the process of dealing with the report findings.

The Paia request also wants to discover whether any of the police officers present at Marikana that day continue to serve in its specialised units like the tactical response team, national intervention unit, special task force or dog units. The request also wants to discover whether any steps have been taken to “assess the impact” of the Marikana tragedy on the police officers involved.

When the inquiry report was released late last month, it recommended further investigations into who from the police “in firing shots at the strikers may have exceeded the bounds of self and private defence and the delay in conveying medical assistance”.

Already it emerged that prosecuting authorities are preparing to charge 13 miners with at least seven deaths in the week before the Marikana killings.

Steps to bring civil damages claims on behalf of the families are understood to be under way. The approximately 270 miners, injured and/or arrested following the tragedy, are also considering their next steps.