Marikana strife ‘sparked surge’ in panga sales in week before killings, testifies mining town's general dealer Mohammed Cassim
by Samuel Mungadze, 18 June 2013, 17:45
UNREST at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine in August 2012 (*leading to the deaths of 34 mineworkers at the hands of the SAPS) sparked a surge in the sales of pangas and axes, forcing a Marikana shop owner to replenish his stock in the week before police killed 34 people, the Marikana commission of inquiry heard on Tuesday.
Mohammed Cassim, who operates General Dealer Supermarket in the mining town, said in a statement submitted to the commission that there had been a sudden demand for pangas, axes and hatchets between August 11 and 22.
The 34 striking mineworkers were killed on August 16 after they defied a police order to surrender their weapons and disperse.
"I was actually running out of stock and I had to order more of these items to meet the demand. From the time I have been operating this business, this was the first time that I have sold so many pangas, axes and hatchets in a week," Mr Cassim said.
The shop owner said he usually kept at least 30 pangas in the shop, but there was unprecedented demand during the strife in Marikana.
Mr Cassim’s statement and that of a witness named "Mr Y" were submitted to the commission by Vuyani Ngalwana, lawyer for the police.
Mr Y, who was left for dead after being attacked in the area on August 13, detailed the event in his statement."African males stabbed me with spears and pangas all over my body where I excessively bled," he said. "After they stabbed me, they all left me because they thought I was dead. I also acted as if I passed away. After I heard they were gone, I then tried to crawl to the direction of the river that was not far from where I was stabbed."
He later identified his attackers.
Mr Ngalwana told the commissioners: "These statements are meant to supplement (North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe’s) latest testimony to this commission about how people in the area continued to be attacked and robbed during the unrest."
Maj-Gen Mpembe has been under cross-examination over his role in the Marikana debacle. He was the overall commander of the police force in Marikana.
Last week, he told the commission that it had been solely his decision to move to the fatal phase of the police plan. He said he had made the call after realising no progress was being made in negotiations with the protesters.
Mr Y’s statement was meant to show why the situation had demanded precise police action, Mr Ngalwana said.
http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/2013/06/18/marikana-strife-sparked-surge-in-panga-sales
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