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Marikana report finds NW police chief ‘unqualified’ and ‘reckless’─── 07:17 Fri, 26 Jun 2015
Rustenburg - The Farlam Commission of Inquiry found that former North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo was unfit and inexperienced when she made “reckless” decisions to diffuse the unrest at the Lonmin Mines in Marikana in 2012.
The report, released by President Jacob Zuma last night, made a recommendation to probe the recently-retired Mbombo’s fitness to hold office after the commission blamed her decisions for the killing of 34 mineworkers on August 16.
“It should be self-evident that the Provincial Commissioner did not have the training, the skills or the experience to enable her to make decisions as to what should be done in the complex and difficult situation at Marikana. She was simply unqualified to do so,” the report said.
Despite being unqualified, she made two key decisions which directly led to the deaths of the miners.
“First, on 15 August, she made the decision that the “tactical option” would be implemented the next day, if the strikers did not lay down their arms and leave the koppie that morning. That decision was inexplicable, and no real attempt has been made to explain or justify it. It was frankly reckless,” the report said.
“Second, at 13h30 on 16 August, she made the decision that it was now time to move to phase 3 (the tactical phase). This too was a reckless decision. She had been informed of the risks of the operation, but nevertheless proceeded, at a time when there was no reason to do so.”
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega, who had a background in social work and human resources management, was in “an even worse position”, the report found.
“She [Phiyega] had no policing expertise and experience whatsoever. The consequence of this situation is that the two senior officers in the decision-making line were entirely unqualified to make any decisions at all bearing on police operational matters.”
Both women face inquiries into their fitness to hold office under the South African Police Service Act.
“I have written to the National Commissioner to inform her of the recommendations pertaining to her,” President Jacob Zuma said during a televised address on Thursday.
ANA
