IT’S TAKEN five years for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to release its list of the 72 cops allegedly involved in the Marikana massacre.
The list is now in the hands of the National Prosecuting Authority but the process is still a long way from over.
BUT PERHAPS MZANSI HAS MOVED ONE STEP CLOSER TO JUSTICE.
Yesterday Ipid said they had done their job. Speaking to Daily Sun, Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed his office has submitted the docket to the NPA.
“We submitted a docket to the NPA.
“We conducted our investigations and identified the suspects involved and now the NPA should do investigations and act against them,” said Dlamini.
“We can’t say who needs to be charged and who shouldnt be.”
NPA spokesman Advocate Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed that the NPA had received the dockets.
“Prosecutors will look at those dockets and establish whether there are any outstanding investigations,” said Mfaku.
He said prosecutors will be going on two weeks’ leave.
Last week, there was a massive commemoration at Marikana, where miners were killed on 16 August 2012 at Wonderkop koppie while demanding better pay.
Earlier this year, in March, the then national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega headed the list of 72 police officers identified for prosecution for their role in the killing of striking miners.
The officers identified also include former North West commissioner Lieutenant-General Zukiswa Mbombo and Brigadier Ledile Malahlela.
North West deputy police commissioners Major-General Ganasen Naidoo and Major General William Mpembe were also named. Their charges will range from murder, assault and defeating the ends of justice to perjury.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union has been the majority union in Marikana since 2012.
- The Marikana massacre of 16 August 2012 was the worst use of force by South African security forces against civilians since the Sharpeville massacre in 1960.
The majority of those killed were killed by fire from R5 assault rifles, which are used by the South African Police Service.
-On Thursday, two leaders linked to alleged union corruption were killed. North West cops said the victims were allegedly shot by an unknown suspect.
Spokesman Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said murder cases were opened but no arrests had been made yet.
