Johannesburg — Lawyers for the miners wounded and arrested during labour unrest in Marikana last year are still seeking interim funding, the Farlam Commission was told on Thursday.

Evidence leader Geoff Budlender said there would be a meeting with a potential funder on Thursday night, and asked that the commission stand down until Monday.

Budlender said if interim funding was acquired, the commission could continue.

If not, the commission's chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, could make a ruling on whether to grant a further postponement.

The commission adjourned until Monday.

Earlier this week, Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners, asked the commission to stand down until August 19.

He said he needed time to approach the Constitutional Court to ask for a ruling on whether the State should fund him and his team. Mpofu made a similar request in the high court last week, but it was rejected.

He was not present at Thursday's hearing.

Farlam has yet to hear submissions before making a ruling on Mpofu's postponement request.

Budlender said that while no one had opposed the request, it was possible it would be challenged on Monday.

The commission, which is sitting in Centurion, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during unrest at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, in August.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on August 16, and another 10 people, including two policemen, were killed in the preceding week.