North West Deputy Police Commissioner, William Mpembe has told the Marikana Commission of Inquiry that he learnt that some mineworkers had been shot and killed only after he arrived at the Joint Operation Centre.

This is where they met for their planning of operations on a daily basis during the unrest in Marikana in August last year. Mpembe had earlier been in a chopper to clearly view what was happening on the hill moments before the miners were shot.

During Thursday’s hearing, Mpembe told the commission he took the decision to disperse striking miners camped on a hill in Marikana on August 16 last year.

The strategy, known as stage three was part of a police plan to disperse armed protesters into smaller groups, encircle and disarm them.

Thirty-four miners were shot and killed shortly thereafter. Mpembe says he took the decision before briefing the North West Provincial Commissioner, Zukiswa Mbombo.

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