In response to today’s appearance in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court of senior police officials in connection to the 2012 Marikana killings, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa Shenilla Mohamed said:
“Today’s court appearance is a step in the right direction towards closure for the victims of Marikana and their families. We hope that the wheels of justice will now turn ever faster to bring almost six years of pain compounded by delays to conclusion.
“The victims and their families have deserved closure for too long, and we hope that today’s event, poignantly on International Day Against Police Brutality, will be a turning point.
“Now that justice is beginning to be served, no stone should be left unturned in uncovering what exactly happened in Marikana on 16 August 2012 to ensure accountability for the killings and end impunity for police brutality.”
Background
On 16 August 2012, the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) fatally shot 34 men at Marikana following a labour dispute around wages. More than 70 others sustained serious injuries.
In March 2017, police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) identified 72 police officers for prosecution in relation to their roles in the killings at Marikana. The dockets were submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority in May.
On 15 March 2018, nine senior police officers appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates Court. Amnesty International understands that the senior officials face charges of murder, attempted murder, contravention of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Act, defeating and/or obstructing the ends of justice and the contravention of the Commissions Act.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Digital Content Officer
Office: +27 11 283 6000
Mobile: +27 (0)64 890 9224
Email: mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
