Zuma resists demand for prompt release of massacre report

South Africa President, Jacob Zuma, is fighting a challenge to force the immediate release of the Marikana Commission report before June 30.

The report which contains the death of 34 miners, who were shot by police at Lonmin’s Marikana mine near, Rustenburg, on Aug. 16, 2012 during a strike, was received by the Presidency on March 31.

Zuma said he needed sufficient time to study the report before the release.

Lawyers representing Zuma on Monday told the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria that they would contest the application which was brought by over 300 miners and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

The Chief Executive Officer of the mine, Ben Magara, has also called for the immediate release of the report for the viewing of the families of the victims.

The detailed report investigates the role that the company, labour unions, investors and the police played in events leading to the tragedy.