Police commander asked to take the blame for Marikana

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Police have declined to comment on testimony at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry that a police air wing commander was asked to take the blame for the deaths of 34 people in the 2012 Marikana shooting.

Lieutenant-Colonel Salmon Vermaak testified that police had asked him to take the blame for the August 16 massacre at Lonmin's Marikana mine near Rustenburg.
At least 78 miners were also wounded.

Vermaak told the hearing that in consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to him that he was going to carry the responsibility for the people killed on the koppie that day.

He said he made it clear to the police legal team, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, and North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would stick only to the facts.

Vermaak said he had kept "clear records" of the strategy by the SA Police Service to place the blame on him.