This as judgment in the trial between state versus the four accused is expected to be handed down in the North West High Court on Monday. In January, judgment was reserved after the state and defence delivered their closing arguments. 

Mpembe and three other senior police officials stand accused of concealing information on circumstances surrounding the death of a miner - Modisaotsile Sagalala. Mpembe and his co-accused are further charged with defeating the ends of justice, following the 2012 mass killing of striking Lonmin miners in Marikana.

Police opened fire on the striking miners in August 2012, following a confrontation at Marikana near Rustenburg. The 34 mineworkers were shot by police during a protest on 16 August 2012. Ten people, including security guards and police officers, were killed in the run-up to the mass shooting.

Mpembe and the officers allegedly failed to report this matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and they misrepresented facts at the Farlam Commission - which was set to establish truths surrounding the deaths of miners during the strike.

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