Johannesburg - Human rights organisation Amnesty International on Friday called on President Jacob Zuma to suspend the SA Police Service (SAPS) top management over the killing of striking miners in Marikana three years ago.
Zuma should start by initiating the suspension of the national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega, said Amnesty International director in southern Africa, Deprose Muchena.
“Three years on, not a single member of the SAPS has been suspended or held to account. With police authorities closing ranks in the face of strong findings against them in the Farlam Commission’s report, it is vital that President Zuma shows strong leadership and takes action against those right at the top of the police service,” Muchena said.
“Anything less will result in the continued lack of accountability for the unlawful killings by police in Marikana. The ongoing denial of justice for the victims and their families is unacceptable.”
The Farlam Commission’s report on the Marikana killings, ordered an investigation into Phiyega’s fitness to hold office while clearing Cabinet ministers of responsibility for the August 2012 shooting of striking miners at platinum producer Lonmin’s operations in Marikana.
Forty-four people were killed in Marikana. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed in the week leading up to August 16 when police shot dead 34 striking miners.
ANA