Arrest of suspects in NUM Chairperson murder encouraging: Premier Modise

24 Oct 2013

North West Premier Thandi Modise says that the arrest of three suspects in connection with the murder of the Chairperson of the National Union Mineworkers (NUM) in Marikana is encouraging and gives hope that peace and stability will be restored in the area and mining communities around Rustenburg.

"We welcome this breakthrough and commend police for the speedy arrest and call on the community to support them in on-going investigations to ensure that those responsible for the recent spate of violence and killings are unmasked and brought to book soonest," said Premier Modise.

The Premier called on unions in the mining sector to respect the Framework for Peace and Stability in the Mining Industry they had signed earlier this year on the 25th of February and to desist from provocation, violence, intimidation and murder and to actively discourage their members from taking the law into their own hands.

According to police, the trio are expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates Court later today. Their arrest follows an intensive investigation after the NUM leader was shot eight times and killed at the Marikana hill, near Lonmin's platinum mine, last Thursday.

He was reportedly shot once while driving. When he got out of his car another seven bullets were fired at him. He died on the scene.

Statement issued by Lesiba Moses Kgwele, spokesperson for the North West Office of the Premier, October 24 2013

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