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Deputy President briefs Parliament on visa regulations

Violence at the mine in August 2012 that erupted from a dispute over pay left 44 people dead – including 34 shot dead by police on a single day.

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Ramaphosa will also have an opportunity to provide a progress report to the national assembly regarding the work of the Moral Regeneration Movement within the context of advancing national unity and building social cohesion.

The Presidency confirmed on Thursday that a summons had been served on Ramaphosa in his personal capacity.

It added that he had instructed lawyers to defend the actions and stressed that the Farlam commission of inquiry into the shooting, which claimed more lives than any other security operation in post-apartheid South Africa, had exonerated Ramaphosa.

The commission, however, recommended inquiries into the fitness to hold office of now-suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega and former North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo.

A statement from Ramaphosa’s offices said that the Deputy President has instructed his lawyers to defend the action and reiterated that the findings of the Farlam Commission of Enquiry remain clear.

Ramaphosa was asked by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to give feedback on the alternative dispute resolution process, which was announced by the Presidency.

Meanwhile‚ Ramaphosa told MPs that preparations for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism is ongoing‚ regarding civil claims stemming from the Marikana tragedy. Mr Ramaphosa was a director and shareholder at Lonmin at the time of the shootings and was involved in email exchanges with authorities in the days leading up to the shooting.

“There is prima facie case to commit murder of workers and Ramaphosa had put pressure on police and conspired to kill workers”, EFF leader, Julius Malema said at the time.

Families of the 37 mineworkers killed filed their own claim against Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.

Ramaphosa’s lawyer Michael Katz would not comment on the summons. The report largely blamed Lonmin, the police and unions for the “tragedy”.

The families were represented by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (SERI), the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Wits Law Clinic.

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President Jacob Zuma released the much anticipated report earlier this year, outlining a summary of the findings and recommendations, which showed there were no grounds to hold Ramaphosa responsible.

Ramaphosa summoned over Marikana