Johannesburg - The Farlam commission of inquiry into the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin's platinum mine at Marikana, in the North West, continues in Rustenburg on Wednesday.
Thirty-four striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group of protesters gathered on a hill near the mine on August 16.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
On Tuesday, the commission heard that the striking miners refused to let the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) negotiate on their behalf.
NUM president Senzeni Zokwana said there were attempts to burn down its office at the mine, and shop stewards were threatened and some were killed. The rest had to go into hiding.
He said the NUM's access to strikers was limited. - Sapa