Marikana experts report points the way to better policing

This statement by former members of the Marikana Panel of Experts on Policing and Crowd Management criticises the South African government and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for failing to release or implement a July 2018 report containing 136 recommendations to reform policing following the 2012 Marikana massacre.

• The Marikana massacre, which resulted in 34 deaths and 60 serious injuries on 16 August 2012, was driven by police incompetence, ill-discipline, and the use of inappropriate weaponry. Specifically, 31 of the 34 people killed were shot with R5 automatic rifles, weapons that are internationally considered unsuitable for crowd management.
• The Marikana Commission of Inquiry identified that the massacre resulted from failings in top police leadership and was likely influenced by inappropriate political considerations. Evidence presented at the inquiry also revealed a culture of police dishonesty and systematic attempts by senior leaders to mislead the commission.
• In April 2016, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko established an 18-person expert panel under retired Judge David Ntshangase to develop a framework for a professional and accountable policing system. The panel submitted a 460-page report in July 2018 containing 136 recommendations, which included demilitarising the SAPS, ensuring leadership standards, and reducing political interference.
• Despite the submission of the expert panel's report in July 2018, the document has not been released to the public or considered by Parliament. The authors argue that current issues in South Africa, including police abuse during COVID-19 lockdowns and senior-level corruption, demonstrate the urgent need for the profound changes outlined in the report.

APA

Bruce, D., Newham, G., Masuku, T., & Kirsten, A. (n.d.). Marikana experts report points the way to better policing. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/marikana-experts-report-points-the-way-to-better-policing

Chicago

Bruce, David, Gareth Newham, Themba Masuku, and Adele Kirsten. Marikana experts report points the way to better policing. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/marikana-experts-report-points-the-way-to-better-policing.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bruce |first1=David |last2=Newham |first2=Gareth |last3=Masuku |first3=Themba |last4=Kirsten |first4=Adele |title=Marikana experts report points the way to better policing |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/marikana-experts-report-points-the-way-to-better-policing |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{brucendmarikana, author = {Bruce, David and Newham, Gareth and Masuku, Themba and Kirsten, Adele}, title = {{Marikana experts report points the way to better policing}}, publisher = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/marikana-experts-report-points-the-way-to-better-policing}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }