Cape Town – Police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) will approach media houses and ask for access to their video footage of the tragedy that unfolded at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Rustenburg last Thursday.

This was confirmed on Sunday by the body’s outgoing executive director, Francois Beukman.

Past attempts by police to gain such access have been vigorously resisted by newspapers and broadcasters on the basis that it could endanger the safety of journalists or affect their ability to cover events.

It remains to be seen whether the extent of the tragedy will change that position.

“I can confirm that video material will be essential to ascertain what happened and, during the course of the coming week, Ipid will be approaching the relevant institutions with regard to the video material that was made on the scene,” Beukman told the Cape Argus.

He said the footage would be crucial in getting to the bottom of what has become known as the Marikana massacre, in which 34 miners died and nearly 80 were injured after police opened fire on protesters gathered on a hill near the mine. A further 10 people – including two police officers, two security guards and three NUM shop stewards – died in earlier, separate incidents since an illegal strike began 10 days ago.

“I understand that this is very sensitive in terms of media freedom, but, in the circumstances, we are going to have to approach these organisations and see what we can get,” Beukman said. He confirmed that the directorate had access to SAPS footage of the incidents.

Beukman said in terms of section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act, police can force the media to hand over all their footage of the event. “We have requested that material and we will look at other material.”

The directorate was working round the clock on its investigation, which will seek to determine whether the police’s response was proportional to the threat posed by armed and angry mineworkers. – Cape Argus