A South African inquiry is to hear testimony from witnesses and families of 34 striking miners shot dead by police in a day of violence in August. Commissioners have already visited the scene of the killings near the Lonmin-owned platinum mine in Marikana. Crime scene investigators and forensic experts are also expected to testify. The three-member panel will also consider the deaths of 10 others, including two policemen, who died during weeks of unrest at the mine. The day of bloodshed on 16 August was the most deadly police action in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. It was sparked by a stand-off between miners and mine owners over pay. The proceedings are being held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, near the scene of the shooting and 100km (60 miles) north-west of Johannesburg. The judicial commission of inquiry was set up by President Jacob Zuma soon after the shootings. It is led by retired Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Ian Farlam. The investigation will determine the roles played by the police, the management of the platinum mine, Lonmin, the unions and government. The commission is expected to complete its analysis within four months. It must submit its final report within a month of finishing its investigation. A total of 46 people died in the violent protests which took place during weeks of unrest at the platinum mine. However, only 44 deaths are being investigated as two deaths fall outside the scope of the inquiry. Late last month, striking miners at the Marikana mine agreed to return to work after accepting a large pay rise. But the strikes and unrest have spread to other mines in South Africa, one the world's biggest producers of precious metals. On Tuesday, one of the country's leading gold mines, Gold Fields, evicted 5,000 striking employees from company dormitories, saying they were intimidating fellow workers.