RUSTENBURG, March (ANA) - Former North West provincial deputy commissioner, General William Mpembe, appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, facing multiple charges relating to shooting incident in Marikana near Rustenburg in the North West in 2012.
The former policeman is now head of security at a mining house in Marikana. He is accused of the murder of Semi Jokanisi, Tembelakhe Mati, Warrant Officer Hendrik Tsietsi Monene, and Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaauku.
The State alleges he killed the four on August 13, 2012, in Marikana. The State further alleges that on August 13, 2012, he attempted to kill Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi, Zolile Honxo, Zwelitsha Mtshwenwa, Muziwanele Mxinwa, Mzoxolo Zukulu and Sibongiseni Leornard Miya.
Mpembe, 55, faces other charges of defeating the ends of justice, contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Act as well as contravention of the Commission Act.
He told the court he intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
Mpembe was the commander of the police when the police intercepted a group of striking Lonmin mineworkers who had gone to the K4 shaft to root out workers who were not on strike, on their way back to the koppie in Nkaneng they met the police. According to the State, Mpembe ordered them to drop their weapons but, they refused and he ordered the police to escort them to the koppie but, along the way he allegedly instructed the police to fire teargas and stun grenades into the group. A confrontation ensued and Warrant Officer Tsietsi Hendrik Monene and Warrant Officer Sello Lepaaku were killed, two striking mineworkers Thembelakhe Mati and Semi Jokanisi were also killed.
Lieutenant Shitumo Solomon Baloyi was stabbed several times by striking mineworkers, while Zolile Honxo, Zwelitsha Mtshwenwa, Muziwanele Mxinwa, Mzoxolo Zukulu and Sibongiseni Leornard Miya were injured.
Retired Colonel Salmon Johannes Vermaak, 53, together with Constable Nkosana Mguye, 38, Warrant Officer Masilo Mogale, 49, Warrant Officer Katlego Joseph Sekgweleya, 39, and Khazamola Phillip Makhubela, 49, are accused of the murder of Pumzile Sokhanyile.
Vermaark further faces charges of defeating the ends of justice and contravention of the Commission Act.
They all told the court they intend to plead not guilty to the charges and were all released on bail. Mpembe and Vermaak were granted R5,000 bail each while Mguye, Mogale, Sekgweleya and Makhubela were released on R2,000 bail each. The State did not oppose bail.
They were arrested on Thursday after they handed themselves over to the Ipid at the Rustenburg police station.
The case was postponed to June 18, for pre-trial at the North West High Court in Mogwase.
In Mpembe's case of contravention of the Commission Act; contravention of the Ipid Act; and defeating the ends of justice -- he is charged along with Gideon van Zyl, Dingaan Madoda and Oupa Pule.
They allegedly failed to disclose that mineworker Modisaotsile van Wyk Sagalala died in custody while transported to the Lonmin premises on August 16, 2012.
Their case was postponed to June 18, for pre-trial at the North West High Court in Mogwase.
The Ipid said the decision in respect of the deaths which occurred on August 16, 2012, was still outstanding.
On August 16, 2012, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police fired on them while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near the mine.
Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week.
- African News Agency (ANA)
