Marikana cop gets death threats

File image - Honourable Judge Ian Gordon Farlam during the public hearing of the Marikana Commission of Enquiry to investigate the Marikana tragedy at which 44 people were killed and scores injured. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

File image - Honourable Judge Ian Gordon Farlam during the public hearing of the Marikana Commission of Enquiry to investigate the Marikana tragedy at which 44 people were killed and scores injured. Picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Published May 15, 2013

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Rustenburg - Death threats were hurled at a police videographer in Marikana on Wednesday by striking mineworkers, the Farlam Commission was told.

“I was informed... that one of our videographers was threatened with death at Marikana today,” said Maj-Gen Charl Annandale.

Annandale headed the police tactical response team during the wage-related unrest at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine last year.

He was under cross-examination at the public hearings investigating the incidents that led to the deaths of 44 people during the unrest.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

Fresh unrest erupted at the mine this week with Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members demanding that the offices belonging to rival union Ä the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Ä be shut down.

On Tuesday, thousands of mineworkers, many wielding sticks and umbrellas, protested at the mine.

The protest came shortly after the murder of local Amcu organiser Mawethu Steven, also known as Steve Khululekile, who was shot dead in Marikana at the weekend.

Steven was due to testify at the commission, sitting in Rustenburg. He is one of several witnesses who have been killed in recent months.

The commission is chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam. - Sapa

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