Two years after the Marikana massecre, former Lonmin Director and now deputy President of South Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa is on the stand at the Farlam Inquiry. Accused of being a “liar” and motivated by his financial interests rather than miner’s needs, Ramaphosa told the Marikana Commission that if Lonmin had taken a more flexible approach towards miners’ needs, things could have turned out differently. When things got out of hand, Ramaphosa asked his ANC comrades to intervene in the turmoil. Some believe that with Ramaphosa’s background as former union leader he could have done more to help resolve the tensions during the strike. The Marikana issue has been a blemish in an otherwise spotless reputation enjoyed by the ANC politician and businessman, The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin’s platinum mining operations at Marikana in August 2012. Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and over 250 arrested on August 16, 2012. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and the two Lonmin security guards, were killed.