The police wanted North West air wing commander Salmon Vermaak to take the blame for the deaths of Marikana miners, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday. The senior policeman was testifying at the public hearings of the inquiry in Centurion, south of Pretoria.
“In a consultation with the police legal team, it was mentioned to me that I am going to carry the responsibility for the people that were killed at koppie three,” he said.
“I realised that I should note everything down in my diary regarding meetings and discussions we were having (regarding Marikana incidents).”
Vermaak said he made it clear to the police legal team, national commissioner Riah Phiyega and the provincial commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo that he would only stick to the facts.
He said he kept “clear records” of the moves by the SA Police Service to place Marikana blame at his doorstep.
Speaking in Afrikaans, Vermaak said he was disappointed by his superiors’ stance.
“I was disappointed that all of a sudden a finger was being pointed at me, with all my years of public order policing. I was being directly held responsible for the death of these people,” said Vermaak.
“Where do they base the allegations against me? It is not acceptable. Did they give me any other briefing about any other plan that was going to be implemented (on August 16, 2012)?”
He said the only intervention plan he knew prior to the bloody August 16, 2012 confrontation only involved encircling the thousands of protesters gathered at a hill in Marikana. …
