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Johannesburg — President Jacob Zuma has expressed his “shock and outrage” at criticism against Judge Ian Farlam who led the inquiry into the Marikana shootings.

“An attack on a member of the judiciary, whether past or present, from a senior member of the legal profession who also sits on the Judicial Services Commission is shocking to say the least,” the president said.

“Throughout the proceedings before the Marikana Commission, Advocate [Dumisa] Ntsebeza was aware of the matters over which Judge Farlam had presided and had ample opportunity to raise whatever concerns he may have had with the learned judge.

“To raise them now on the completion of the commission’s work evinces a lack of respect and a callous disregard for the decorum which is otherwise shown by all self-respecting members of the legal profession,” said Zuma.

Ntsebeza, advocate Dali Mpofu and Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa lashed out at the Marikana report at commemorations of the shooting in the North West on Sunday, calling it a disgrace and demanding a review of the report and questioned Farlam’s integrity.

Farlam’s commission of inquiry probed the deaths of 44 people during a 2012 strike at Lonmin’s Platinum Mine in Marikana in the North West, and its report recommended, among other things, that an inquiry be held into national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega’s fitness to hold office. The commission also found that the South Africa Police Service lied about its tactical plan to disperse striking mineworkers on August 16, 2012, resulting in 34 of them being shot dead.

Farlam’s report was also critical of Mathunjwa’s Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and the role it played in the events leading up to the shooting. — AP