/ 25 July 2014

Marikana: Miner murder mystery deepens

The police officer charged with the murder of a Durban Deep protester has been given bail.
The police officer charged with the murder of a Durban Deep protester has been given bail.

One of those arrested for the murder of a North West mine employee on Wednesday has also been implicated in Mr X’s testimony. Lawyers representing Marikana’s injured and arrested miners confirmed that Anele Zonke was one of the four suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a Samancor Chrome mine human resources manager on Wednesday evening. 

The victim, whose name has not been released, was fatally shot in front of a bottle store in Kroondal, near Rustenburg. The North West police confirmed that Anele Zonke (22), Siyabulela Maqwiliso (34), Lusindiso Siqhaza (39) and Sandiso Majaca (25) appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday for the murder and possession of illegal firearms. 

Their case has been postponed until Thursday and the four will remain in custody.  It is not clear if this murder is linked to the murder of a Lonmin miner, Bongani “Bhayi” Mehlonkomo, who was gunned down on his way from work in Marikana on Tuesday.  

However, both Zonke and Mehlonkomo have been mentioned numerous times in the testimony of the miner turned police witness, only known as Mr X. 

He has been testifying at the Farlam commission about the events which took place during an unprotected strike at Marikana in August 2012. Mr X has repeatedly mentioned Zonke and Mehlonkomo’s names, implicating them in the deaths and damage to property caused by miners in the week preceding the August 16 massacre in which 34 miners were fatally shot by police.  

It is unclear if this was a revenge killing but North West police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said they are not linking the two incidents. – Additional reporting by Sapa