By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg-The North West Police have arrested four Lonmin mineworkers who are believed to be behind of some of the murder cases that happened around the  Marikana Mine Hostels recently. In the past three weeks four mineworkers were brutally murdered and police have been working tirelessly in their endeavour to arrest the perpetrators. Following the investigations, yesterday 23 October 2012 police arrested four mineworkers in connection with the alleged  killing of their co-workers. The alleged killings happened  during the last violent unrest by some Mineworkers at Marikana. The four suspects were arrested  at about 15:00 in a vehicle while they were coming from the Marikana Enquiry.  

“Police would like to reiterate the fact that the arrest of the four has nothing to do with the intimidation of mineworkers who are testifying in the Marikana Inquiry” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

“As the South African Police Service we dispute the allegations that we  are targeting mineworkers because we  are trying to prevent them from testifying in the Marikana Commission of Enquiry” He said.

In this Democratic dispensation, Police are governed and guided by the constitution of the country which protects Human Rights including those of the suspects, arrested and detained persons.

“Therefore it could not be right to suggest or insinuate that police effect unlawful arrests in order to derail the objective and purpose  of the Marikana Commission of Enquiry. Those who were arrested, were merely arrested after police conducted thorough investigations and were confidently convinced that the arrested four had bridged the law” Ngubane outlines.  

We are confident that there is evidence linking the arrested suspects to the killing of the victims.

South African Police Service would like to put it on record that we have no other agenda than to arrest those who are breaking the laws of the Republic.  We would like to encourage anyone who feels that they have been treated unfairly to contact any of the Chapter nine institutions, who are charged with the responsibility to investigate the Police.  

If there is a need for any of the suspects to appear before the Marikana  Commission of Enquiry, by virtue of the powers vested upon the Commission,  the commissioner will make such pronouncement and if still under police custody, they will be availed whenever that need arise. All they need to know is that all those who have taken part or contributed in criminal activities, the arm of the law is never too short to reach them. They will be snatched every where even underground in the mine shafts.