Rustenburg – Police radio communication in Marikana could have been compromised by a robbery before 34 striking miners were shot dead, the Farlam Commission heard on Tuesday.

Maj-Gen Charl Annandale said a police officer was robbed of his radio the Monday before the shooting on August 16 last year, a Thursday.

The individual who took the radio later tried to use it.

“It was clear that the person wasn’t an officer,” Annandale said.

He did not clarify whether the radio was taken from one of the police officers killed in Marikana that week.

Annandale said he opted to discuss the Marikana plan with the other commanders since it could have been compromised had it been shared over the radio.

He was delivering his evidence-in-chief at the commission holding public hearings in Rustenburg.

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people killed during the wage-related unrest in Marikana last year. Police shot dead 34 mineworkers on August 16. Another 10 people were killed in the preceding week.

Annandale told the commission he received a text message from the president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction, Joseph Mathunjwa, almost two hours before police fired on the protesters.

The message read: “Since (there is) no person who is available to give feedback to, we are going back to employees to inform them no one is available. We have tried our best without co-operation from anyone. Let peace prevail.”

Annandale said he was concerned about the message and discussed it with Maj-Gen William Mpembe, who told him he also received it. Annandale said they tried to get hold of Mathunjwa but failed.

He sent Mathunjwa a text message saying police were always available and willing to help them find an amicable situation.

Mathunjwa did not respond.

The hearings continue. – Sapa