2oceansvibe News | South African and international news

Sponsored by RSAWeb rss
2ov Radio
  • Home
  • About
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Seth Rotherham
  • du Cap Collection
  • Café du Cap
  • Cabine du Cap
  • Media Packs / Advertising
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Anonymous Tips
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
Seth Rotherham
  • NPA Blatantly Flouts Constitution With Marikana Murder Charges, Says Expert

    31 Aug 2012 by Jasmine Stone in Crime
    Related Posts
    • Karaoke Rage: 12 People Have Been Killed For Singing Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'
    • SA Mother Who Allegedly Murdered Her Three Young Daughters To Use Insanity And Infanticide As Her Defence
    • US Woman Brutally Murdered And Bits Put In Blender At Rehab Centre In Mexico
    • 'Socialite' Doctor & Rapist's Girlfriend, Dr. Magudumana Claims Arrest Unlawful, Wants To Be Released Immediately
    • Stabbing Of Cash App Founder With Cocktail Of Drugs In His System Reveals San Fran's Wild 'Lifestyle' Party Scene

    Yesterday, in a “bizarre and shocking” act, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) slammed the 270 miners who were arrested at Marikana with charges of murdering 34 of their colleagues who were among them. Law expert, Pierre de Vos, has called the “shameful” decision a “flagrant abuse of the criminal justice system”.

    Pierre de Vos, Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance at the University of Cape Town, took to his blog last night to express his thoughts on the very public issue.

    News that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided to charge 259 arrested Marikana miners with the murder of their 34 colleagues who were shot dead by the police, is bizarre and shocking and represents a flagrant abuse of the criminal justice system, most probably in an effort to protect the police and/or politicians like Jacob Zuma and Nathi Mthethwa.

    Unless what we saw on our TV screens never happened or unless the NPA is hiding shocking and bizarre conspiracy theory-type evidence from us that places the events we saw on television in an entirely different light, there could be no possible valid reason for the NPA to have charged the 259 miners with the murder of their 34 comrades killed by the police. Not in terms of the incitement laws, nor in terms of the common purpose doctrine.

    Even if it was true that the miners provoked the police, this could never, ever, make them liable for the killing of their comrades. At most, provocation could be a factor taken into account in judging whether the police officers involved in the massacre should be found guilty of murder or not.

    De Vos was not the only one who was shocked and upset with the NPA’s latest decision. Cosatu spokesperson, Patrick Craven, claimed that it drew attention to the lack of adequate training within the SA Police Service and also accused the NPA for “failing to find evidence and charge those responsible for the offence”. The United Democratic Movement sent an open letter to President Jacob Zuma, and the party’s president, Bantu Holomisa, went on to say:

    The police have blocked every attempt by the mineworkers to get bail because they claim that they are still busy with investigations.

    Yet, the NPA has already taken a decision to prosecute the mineworkers even though the investigation is incomplete.

    We call on you [Zuma] to halt the unfair prosecution of mineworkers and to urge everyone to allow the… inquiry get to the bottom of the Marikana massacre.

    De Vos rounded it up best with his closing paragraph.

    No matter what, the decision seems to flout the NPA Act as well as the Constitution, which requires every member of the NPA to act without fear, favour or prejudice. Instead they have acted with fear, favour and prejudice to advance some or another political agenda, further eroding the little trust South Africans might still have left in them. It is, indeed, shameful.

    Read de Vos’s post, in its entirety, here.

    [Source: New24, Constitutionally Speaking]

    • ← Campbell’s Is Releasing A Limited Edition Andy Warhol Soup
    • Pussy Riot Blood Graffiti Just A Decoy In Russian Double Murder →
    • Tweet
    • Tags:
    • marikana
    • marikana mine
    • Murder
    • NPA

    Latest News

    • Time To Feel Small Again – Webb Telescope Stares Deeply Into The Starry Heart Of A Galaxy Far, Far, Far Away [Video]

      [imagesource: esa/nasa/csa/j.leeandthephangs-jwstteam] This is your occasional reminder...

    • Karaoke Rage: 12 People Have Been Killed For Singing Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’

      [imagesource:ctm] Old Blue Eyes may have done things his way in New York, but the Frank...

    • “Australia’s Worst Female Serial Killer” Pardoned After 20 Years

      [imagesource:twitter/abc] A woman once branded "Australia's worst female serial killer"...

    • Government’s National Health Insurance Plans Might “Leave All South Africans Worse Off”

      [imagesource:flickr] Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, proposed a National Health Insur...

    • Explore Spotify Songs That Nobody Has Ever Heard Before With Forgotify

      [imagesource:instagram] Ever thought of all the songs that have never ever been heard o...


    • 2oceansvibe Partners

    • CONTACT US
    • GOT A HOT STORY?
    • 2oceansvibe Radio
    • 2oceansvibe Media
    • Media Pack
    • Seth Rotherham
    • Café du Cap
    • Cabine du Cap
    • Cape Town City Accommodation
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Business
    • Media
    • Entertainment
    • Tech/Sci
    • World
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Sport
    • Politics
  • Follow

    2oceansvibe.com is part of the 2oceansVibe Media Group

    DMMA Logo