People arrive for Marikana inquiry

North West - People started pouring into the Rustenburg Civic Centre on Monday for the judicial inquiry into the shooting at Lonmin Platinum mine.

Thirty-four Lonmin miners were killed and 78 were wounded when the police opened fire on them during a protest in Marikana on August 16.

Human rights lawyer George Bizos arrived with his legal team.

He is representing the Legal Resources Centre and the Bench Marks Foundation during proceedings.

Blue and orange banners were erected outside the entrance to the civic centre advertising the commission with the tag line “committed to finding the truth in the interest of restoration and justice”.

On Monday evidence leaders would present post mortem reports and other formal evidence, including a ballistics report. Legal teams would be given a chance to question the evidence, and crime scene experts would also testify.

The commission said that because of the large volume of material involved it was not possible to predict the pace of the proceedings.

The commission, which is chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, was postponed earlier this month.

Lawyers representing the families of 20 of the Eastern Cape miners killed asked Farlam to postpone proceedings until they arrived in Rustenburg. - Sapa