The EFF and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) will hold separate discussions on Thursday about retired Judge Ian Farlam’s report on the violence and deaths at Marikana.

ISS political analyst Gareth Newham has said there were 2 glaring gaps in the report of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, one of which was the lack of first-hand accounts from police officers who were there.

Some of the questions about the August 2012 shooting had been addressed in the report released by President Jacob Zuma last Thursday. However, the report did not go far enough in providing answers.

Newham said the involvement of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega and then police minister Nathi Mthethwa was not comprehensively addressed either.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told Eyewitness News he was “flabbergasted” at the findings.

He vowed the party would ensure that those in power were held accountable for the shooting, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The report has recommended an inquiry into the fitness to hold office of Phiyega and former North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo.

According to the report, Ramaphosa could not be held accountable for what happened on August 16, the day police shot dead 34 striking Lonmin miners.

Shortly before that day, Ramaphosa who was a non-executive board member of Lonmin, sent an e-mail to then Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa calling on police to take action against the protesting miners.

Thirty-four strikers were shot dead in Marikana, North West, on August 16, 2012. Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed in the previous week.

President Jacob Zuma subsequently appointed Farlam to investigate the violence. News24