SAPS response to the Media Statement issued by the Marikana Commission on 19 September 2013

Pretoria - The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) has taken note of the media statement issued by the Marikana Commission on 19 September 2013. The SAPS legal team views the statement as both unfortunate and highly prejudicial to the SAPS.

The SAPS legal team understand the role of evidence leaders to be that of facilitators and to act impartially in relation to the evidence that is brought before the Commission. The SAPS has throughout this Commission's hearing, cooperated fully and without reservation.

The SAPS legal team would have preferred, as it has always been the case, to have been given an opportunity to provide the required explanation prior to evidence leaders passing judgement on the matter. We regret the approach taken by the evidence leaders and undertake to give any and all answers to the concerns they have raised when the Commission resumes its work next week.

Kindly note that there will no further comment provided in this regard.

Statement issued by Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale, Office of the National Commissioner, South African Police Service, September 20 2013

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