Rustenburg –

Four men arrested in connection with several murders in Marikana will be released soon, the Farlam commission of inquiry heard on Monday.

An arrangement had been reached for them to be released on certain conditions, lawyer Dali Mpofu, for the wounded mineworkers and the 275 workers arrested after the Marikana shooting, told the commission after a lengthy consultation with police representatives.

The four were arrested on October 23, in connection with killings around the Marikana hostel. They were on their way back from the inquiry, being held in Rustenburg, at the time.

The four would be arraigned before the Farlam commission as witnesses to the police shooting, on August 16, of 34 miners at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana.

Ishmael Semenya, for the police, said the arrested miners could not be released only on a warning, as they faced serious charges, including murder. – Sapa