Mpofu, appearing for the injured and arrested miners, is expected to rejoin the commission on Monday, after being stabbed in an apparent robbery in East London last week.
He had asked the commission's chairperson, retired judge Ian Farlam, to move the hearings to either Pretoria or Johannesburg.
Mpofu said those involved were incurring numerous costs, including travel time to Rustenburg, and there was also less time for consultations. He said his legal team conservatively cost around R50 000 a day to run.
The Bapo ba Mogale community submitted an affidavit opposing the application. A ruling is expected next week.
The commission is investigating the circumstances which led to the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana last year, including the fatal shooting of 34 striking mineworkers by police.
Mpofu was cross-examining national police commissioner Riah Phiyega when the commission adjourned two weeks ago.
Phiyega cross-examination
In his absence, Tim Bruinders, for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, began cross-examining Phiyega on Tuesday.
She said she went to Marikana several days before the shootings. "I went to Marikana because the situation was escalating; the continued strike, the inability to disarm the protesters, the continued disruption of economic and social well-being, damaging of property, and the continuing loss of lives."
She denied she was there to give orders, but said she would have given strategic intervention if necessary. The cross-examination continues. – Sapa