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Marikana Massacre: Police Tactics 'Defective'

South Africa's president says a long-awaited report calls for an investigation to "ascertain criminal liability" against officers.

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An inquiry into the police killings of 34 striking South African workers at a mine in 2012 has called for the officers involved to be investigated, claiming the tactics used to deal with the unrest were "defective".

The miners were killed at Lonmin PLC's platinum mine near Marikana in 2012, and the families of the victims accused police of using excessive force.

President Jacob Zuma said in a televised address that a government-appointed panel's report into what happened has recommended that state prosecutors should determine whether any police involved in the killings were criminally liable.

Jacob Zuma
Image: President Zuma revealed the report's findings to the nation

He told the nation: "The commission recommends a full investigation under the direction of the director of public prosecutions... with a view to ascertaining criminal liability on the part of all members of the South African Police Service who were involved in the incidents."

Mr Zuma described the killings as a "horrendous tragedy that has no place in democracy", adding that the world did not expect such an episode in a "free and democratic South Africa".

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"We should, as a nation, learn from this painful episode," Mr Zuma said.

"We should use it to build a more united, peaceful and cohesive society."

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On the subject of the police operation, President Zuma said investigators found that officers followed a flawed plan to control the protesters and there was a "complete lack of command and control" among officers at the scene.

"He added: "The commission found that the police operation should not have taken place on 16 August because of the defects in the plan."

Mr Zuma said the commission concluded that senior political leaders were not responsible for the killings.

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The report, which was handed to Mr Zuma at the end of March, found Lonmin and union leaders could have done more to stop the violence.

Striking miners themselves promoted conflict, the report added.

The nearly three-year inquiry by retired judge Ian Farlam also addressed allegations Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had used his influence to trigger the police action.

The claims against Mr Ramaphosa, who was on Lonmin's board at the time, were "groundless", the commission found.

The panel also expressed concern that it took around an hour to get medical attention for some of the injured strikers.

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Mr Zuma added that the commission's report recommended all killings before the 16 August massacre should also be looked into.

In the days leading up to the attack, 10 others were murdered around the platinum mine, including non-striking miners, security guards and two police officers who were hacked to death.

President Zuma appeared to defend the police's actions earlier this week, suggesting they were aimed at protecting people.

He said: "Those people in Marikana had killed people, and the police were stopping them from killing people."

Mr Zuma backtracked a day later, saying all of the deaths must be condemned.