ANA reports that retired judge Ian Farlam, who chaired the commission of inquiry into the Marikana massacre, on Wednesday expressed concern over the slow pace of implementing his recommendations.  

The government instituted the judicial inquiry after 44 people, including protesting Lonmin mineworkers, police officers, and security officials, were killed in August 2012 in Marikana.  Farlam was one of the panelists at an Institute for Security Studies’ seminar analysing the conduct of the SA Service (SAPS) at, and after, the 2012 shootings.  “We recommended that the recommendations of the National Development Plan that the police should be re-demilitarised should be implemented as a matter of urgency.  That hasn’t been done and that (is) a very unsatisfactory situation,” Farlam stated.  The retired judge told the seminar that “the delays are disturbing” regarding the bringing to book of individuals who committed various crimes at Marikana.  He also went on to indicate:  “I’m happy with the implementation on the recommendation on the panel of experts to ensure we have a world best practices’ police force.”  The Marikana massacre is commemorated annually on 16 August.  On Wednesday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said he had written to President Cyril Ramaphosa calling on him to declare an official Marikana Memorial Day.

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page