Pretoria - The Police Ministry has welcomed the release of the Marikana Commission's report, saying it will speedily implement its recommendations.
“As the SAPS we will certainly learn a lot of lessons out of this tragedy. We welcome the areas that have been flagged by the commission which are issues of institutional reform and transformation,” spokesperson Musa Zondi said on Friday.
Among others, the commission chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam called for an establishment of a panel of experts which must look at exploring ways and means of alternative methods of policing in so far as crowd management and control is concerned.
"It called upon us to focus on issues of training and retraining of the service as well as a closer relook at public order policing unit," he said.
Zondi said they are currently studying the fuller version of the report.
“In the next few months, we will be hard at work in implementing and executing the recommendations of the commission and we will keep the nation updated on further developments.”
On 26 August 2012, a commission of inquiry was appointed to investigate matters of public, national and international concern arising out of the tragic incidents at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana during 11 to 16 August 2012.
About 44 people lost their lives and many others were injured.
The commission was tasked with enquiring into and making findings and recommendations concerning the conduct of Lonmin Plc, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and other government departments, as well as individuals and groupings.
The recommendations include an enquiry into National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega’s fitness to hold office.
President Zuma on Thursday evening said he had written to the National Commissioner to inform her of the recommendations pertaining to her.
“The commission has also recommended that there must be an inquiry into the fitness to hold office, of the National Police Commissioner as well as the North West Provincial Police Commissioner in terms of Section 9 of the South African Police Service Act,” said the President.
He said the Minister of Police would inform the former North West Police Commissioner on matters affecting her.
“The affected ministers will study the commission report and advise me on the implementation of the recommendations. Further updates on these matters will be provided in due course.”- SAnews.gov.za
