parliamentANA reports that government has been served with summonses of claims of over R1.1-billion in compensation from the victims of the Marikana massacre, which claimed the lives of 34 people on 16 April 2012, and ten others in the preceding week.  

This emerged in Parliament on Tuesday.  Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, police top brass, as well as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, were asked to give MPs an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry that probed the tragedy.  A total of 325 miners’ families were claiming R179,286-million for loss of support.  Thirty six of those injured as a result of the police shooting them were claiming R100.9-million.  A total of 285 people claiming they were assaulted, arrested, detained and maliciously prosecuted wanted R870.9-million.  A further six people accusing police of assaulting, arresting and detaining them were claiming R19.8-million.  The state’s “offers of settlement” in respect of the loss of support claims have been “accepted in principle”, however legal representatives still have to discuss the terms of the settlement with their clients.


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