Rustenburg – Striking Marikana miners suspected police officials tasked to take video footage of the strike were spies, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.

During cross-examination at the commission in Rustenburg, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said officers received information that their lives were in danger and therefore had to withdraw from the area.

As a result, police officials were unable to provide videos of how the Marikana shooting on August 16 last year unfolded.

Several weeks before the shooting Phiyega signed a document issuing instructions that police had to ensure they recorded videos  of all public unrest they attended to. Phiyega said there was no provision for this instruction.

Dumisa Ntsebenza, for the families of the dead miners, said police withdrew and stopped filming in several areas around Marikana around 1.30pm on August 16.

At 4pm they opened fire on the protesters, killing 34. He questioned Phiyega on whether the reason the police had provided for not having the visuals was acceptable.

“The explanation in the report, I, Riah, accept.”

She said she learnt of “gaps in the information” once she and the other police commanders started preparing for the commission. It is investigating the killing of 44 people during wage-related unrest in Marikana in August last year.

Phiyega said she did not make any further inquiries into the missing video evidence as she believed provincial police commissioner General Zukiswa Mbombo would have done so if she saw fit.

Phiyega said she did not believe the missing video evidence could have been concealed by police officials who were perhaps filmed doing things they were not supposed to.

Ntsebenza pointed out to Phiyega that the video evidence submitted by police did not show them utilising minimum force.

“Yes, there’s no footage (of them using minimum force). We had a  plan and that plan was disrupted,” she said.

She maintained the disruption affected the police’s ability to record themselves throughout the Marikana operation. The police only supplied two videos of the Marikana shootings to the commission.

Earlier, Phiyega said it had not been confirmed that police shot  dead the 34 miners killed at Marikana.

“I understand that 34 miners were killed, but to say who killed them I cannot comment on that,” said Phiyega.

A report handed in by SAPS later confirmed the police shot the miners.

Ntsebenza said the report showed police were not disputing they shot the miners, but the argument was the circumstances behind the killings.

According to the report, 30 of the miners died on the scene while four others died in hospital, Ntsebenza said.

Phiyega said none of the police officers deployed to Marikana

had been suspended or charged for their role in the killings.

Ntsebenza asked Phiyega whether she considered disciplinary action against the officers, including those who had failed to make  the recordings, since they had failed to comply with her instructions.

“When the commission is concluded and evidence is brought forward…. relevant remedial action will be taken,” she said.

“I shall not pre-empt the outcomes of the proceedings,” she said.

Ntsebenza was expected to continue cross-examining Phiyega on Thursday. – Sapa

The Office of the African National Congress Chief Whip in Parliament has distanced the party from what it says are malicious political views expressed in a document produced by Parliament’s research department. 

The research was done on behalf of the portfolio committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Caucus spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says the report makes serious political judgments against the integrity of Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and casts aspersions on her competence. 

Moloto says they will engage the research unit. “We are going to ask for a meeting with the head of Parliamentary research so that we can get clarity as to what is the role of Parliamentary research should it contain political statements should it made political claims we really need to get understanding so that we are together in this.”

However, Democratic Alliance MP Annette Steyn says the document does not in any way express specific political views and is a fair and accurate assessment on the performance of Joemat-Pettersson. 

She says the ANC caucus in Parliament should not be allowed to bully or intimidate any member of staff who does not toe their party-political line. “Parliamentary staffs are meant to be objective and present work that is an accurate and fair assessment of the performance of government that is their job,” says Steyn.

The role of the parliamentary research department is to offer objective and impartial research information

The document – extracts from which were quoted in Business Day on Wednesday – stated that the responsibility for fisheries management “is in the wrong hands”.

It further lists mismanaged ships, a lack of research planning, and targets and a strategic plan out of step with the National Development Plan, as problems that must be addressed. It claims the department is in a “defiant mode” with regard to its plans to allocate 70% of fishing rights to SMMEs during the 2013/14 financial year.

Motshekga said the paper attacked the integrity of Joemat-Pettersson. “The role of the parliamentary research department is to offer objective and impartial research information and analysis to enable committee members to have an informed discussion on the topic of the day,” he said.

“Expression of political statements, personal judgements, and posturing is a terrain that should be left to politicians, not staff members.” – Additional reporting by Sapa

World Haemophilia Day which was observed yesterday and is observed every year on April 17, advocates a global effort to ensure appropriate care and treatment for a disease that is the oldest known genetic bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the genes.

This year marked 50 years of advancing the cause for haemophilia treatment and care for all people with the disease and other inherited bleeding disorders.

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Sadtu yesterday morning abandoned its picketing to mourn the passing of its provincial deputy secretary, Ruth Oliphant.

Pupils were dismissed as early as 10am yesterday as hundreds of teachers from Kimberley and surrounding areas descended on the Galeshewe Social Centre to pay their last respects to Oliphant, who died last week after an unsuccessful operation.

Fr more http://www.thenewage.co.za

A US man whose estranged wife cut off his penis accused her on Wednesday of effectively murdering him, recounting his horror as she severed the organ and threw it into a garbage disposal machine.

The 60-year-old man said he would never have sex again after his wife – who said she “wanted him to stop hurting her with his penis” – drugged him and tied him to a bed, before taking a kitchen knife to his manhood.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

The battle for the control of Tlokwe local municipality between the ANC and DA rages on with the opposition calling for an open tender regime for the municipality.

The DA tabled a motion, scheduled for discussion on April 30, in which it calls for the public and the media to be allowed to witness the adjudication of tenders, as a way of fostering transparency.

DA councillor John Coetzee said that the motion would put mayor Maphetle Maphetle in a tight spot, alleging that tenders had been a source of patronage for the ANC, which controls the council.

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-Two bodies recovered from a crashed light aircraft that submerged into Modimola dam near Mahikeng.

North West Police Divers discovered a first body in the morning at around 10:00 today and used jaws of life to free another body.

A helicopter crashed into Modimola dam on Tuesday after it experienced some mechanical difficulties.

Police Divers from Potchefstroom were brought in to help with the search.

The search was adjourned later yesterday because of poor visibility.

“The search has been adjourned because of poor visibility. The search resumed today morning and police discovered two bodies who believe to be of instructors and his assistant” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The DA NW laments over an unfortunate aircraft accident yesterday where 2 men from the Mahikeng area died when their plane crashed into Modimola dam around sunset.

The DA NW is very disturbed by the fact that divers had to come from Potchefstroom to assist in finding the deceased.

“Mahikeng has 2 dams in the area and over the December holiday 3 people drowned in Modimola dam” DA Tiaan Kotze said.

Kotze said Mahikeng Fire and Disaster Services had the necessary equipment, but the Municipality sold the boats and equipment in the previous term although 2 men with the necessary skills are employed by SAPS and are residing in Mahikeng. 

These men has assisted in the search for the 2 deceased men in Modimola.

“This is indicative of the prolonged and widespread factionalism within the NW ANC that stands in the way of service delivery” said Kotze.

The DA demands that a full report from the executive Mayor Nomtsama Lenah Miga’s on her action plan on the handling of such emergencies be tabled at the next Ordinary Council meeting.