Nhleko, committee briefing underway

The commission, headed by retired judge Ian Farlam, investigated the deaths of 44 people killed during strike-related unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, in August 2012.

It recommended in its report, released in June, that police commissioner Riah Phiyega face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

Last month, the Presidency said President Jacob Zuma intended to institute an inquiry into allegations of misconduct levelled against Phiyega.

Several recommendations on how public order policing could be improved were also made by the commission.

According to the recommendations, several steps should be taken to step up police work in situations such as those that occurred during the strike.

Farlam recommended that the public order policing unit be advised by local and international experts who have experience in dealing with crowds armed with sharp weapons and firearms.

In public order police situations, the operational decisions should be made by an officer in overall command with reasonable training in public order policing.

All radio communications should be recorded and the recordings should be preserved, the commission recommended.

Other recommendations included:

- The SA Police Service should also review the adequacy of the training of members who use specialised equipment such as water cannon.

- Police helicopters should be equipped with video cameras.

- All police officers should be trained in basic first aid.

- All of these recommendations should be treated as a "matter of priority".

- Specialist firearm officers should receive additional training in the basic first aid skill needed to deal with gunshot wounds.

(File photo: Gallo Images)