Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR) forcing employees to vaccinate for Covid-19

Press Statement, 04 November 2021

Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR) forcing employees to vaccinate for Covid-19

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Kimberley strongly condemns the conduct of Kudumane Manganese Resources based on the Memorandum(Memo) issued to employees and contractors dated 06 October 2021 forcing employees to vaccinate for Covid -19 and they should show proof of vaccination when entering the premises effective from the 01 November 2021.

Kudumane Manganese Resources is a mine situated in the Hotazel area of the Northern Cape Province. 

Further, the Memo states that non-vaccinated employees must submit negative PCR test results every Tuesday and the costs associated with such PCR tests will be for the employees own accounts. 

The employees who failed to comply with the instruction (Memo) have been sent home and are said to be absent from work. 

Our grave concern is that this happened even though we have engaged the said mine, indicating our position that we are not against the voluntary vaccination; we are against the vaccination being made mandatory and further that the mine agreed to assist employees with PCR test on the mine with no costs to employees. 

We view the attitude of this employer as a violation of the constitutional rights of the employees and we will be approaching the Human Rights Commission on this matter. 

The NUM will fight tooth and nail any employer who will attempt to make Covid -19 vaccination mandatory, thus protecting the constitutional rights of our members.

For further information and details contact:

Cornelius Manhe, NUM Kimberley Regional Secretary, 079 871 5514

Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257

Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167