Commission visits mine shaft where both sides died

A POLICEMAN told a judicial commission of inquiry yesterday that he found two dead men and 14 spent cartridges in an open area near the Karee mine shaft in Marikana.

Crime scene expert Captain Moses Moshwana, based at the Rustenburg criminal records centre, took the commission to three sites marked with orange plastic cones.

“On August 13, I found here a dead body, of a civilian, lying next to this shack. The body was lying next to a handmade spear and a knobkierie,” said Moshwana.

He led the inspection team towards a river, saying he had seen the used bullets and a dead body across the river.

“From the shack, I came towards the river, where I saw the used bullet cartridges. Between these two cones I found 14 used bullets. One was of an R5 rifle and 13 belong to 9mm pistol,” said Mushwana.

“Across the river there was another body… There was also a spear and a knobkierie by his side.”

The commission, led by retired Judge Ian Farlam, also visited the spot where a policeman was hacked to death during the violent protests at the Lonmin mine in North West.

Colonel Neels Botha pointed out the scene where the police met striking workers. He said the workers had gathered on a bridge near the Karee hostel, and then walked up to the railway line, where they met the police.

Their leader spoke to General William Mbembe and after the discussion the workers walked on and, about a kilometre further on, attacked two policemen, hacking one to death.

“The other policeman… died in hospital,” said Botha.

He said a spear and a knobkierie were found in the area. He had marked the area with orange cones so the judge could see where the body lay and where a spear, knobkierie and stun grenades had been found.

The commission also visited the Nkaneng informal settlement, near the hill overlooking where police opened fire at Lonmin strikersAugust 16.

In the week before the shooting, 10 people were killed, including the two policemen and two security guards. – Sapa