Petra Diamonds force NUM members to resign from the union

NUM Press Statement, 27 October 2014

Petra Diamonds force NUM members to resign from the union

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is extremely disgusted with Petra Diamonds management at Helam mine for designing a special form to force our members at the mine to resign from the NUM.

Our members have informed us that they are being forced to resign from the NUM. They are then forced to take a retrenchment package after being forced to resign from the NUM. As the NUM, we view this matter seriously and this is an onslaught on the NUM for refusing to be part of the retrenchment process currently underway at Helam mine. The NUM in its 32 years of existence had fought very hard against the brutal apartheid regime and employers. We remain unshaken and will not be intimidated.

"This matter is very serious because it is illegal for the company to design such a form with the logo of the company on it," said Lekhotla Mabea, NUM Chief Negotiator at Helam mine.

Currently,253 NUM members are still working at the mine and the Department of Mineral Resources is facilitating the proposed retrenchments.

The NUM again requests the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to intervene and stop this illegal,unlawful and unconstitutional conduct that is happening at the mine.

The company recently announced that it wants to retrench 370 employees at the mine. It has issued section 189 and as the NUM we have told the company that it must first comply with the MPRDA section 52 which states that in the instance the company anticipates to retrench 10% or more employees it has to inform the Minister of Minerals Resources. 

In this regard, the company should not be looking at section 189 of the Labour Relations Act of 1995 as the incumbent is doing.

This company recently made a submission to DMR and stated on record that MPRDA (Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 section 52 is not a pre-requisite and applicable to Helam Mine. DMR as a regulator must be decisive and not be undermined by Petra Diamonds. The NUM strongly condemns such statement made by the company during the meeting. The transformation in the mining industry is under severe threat if the companies utter such statement to the regulator. Petra Diamonds cannot be allowed to disrespect and undermine the laws of this country.

See the attached form

For more information, please contact:

Lekhotla Mabea: (NUM Chief Negotiator at Helam Mine)-082 343 8203
Livhuwani Mammburu: (Acting NUM National Spokesperson )-083 809 3257

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

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