Rustenburg - Potentially critical information could be contained in the pocket-books of officers deployed to Marikana during last year's wage-related unrest, the Farlam Commission heard on Thursday.
Maj-Gen Charl Annandale said the officers had different ways of logging entries in their pocket-books.
A typical entry would have information on the post they held on a particular day, and the type of vehicle and firearm in their possession, Maj-Gen Charl Annandale said.
“In terms of Marikana they would say when they went on duty and whether they used their firearms or not.”
Annandale headed the police tactical response team during the unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last year.
He said he did not make any notes during the operation.
Nokukhanya Jele, for the SA Human Rights Commission, said they learnt that many of the officers deployed to Marikana kept pocket-books. Jele told the commission they had experienced difficulties in retrieving them from the SA Police Service.
“We have been making requests for these pocket-books since January 18,” said Jele.
The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people in Lonmin's wage-related unrest last year.
Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers in Marikana on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.
Sapa