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Press Statement, 29 January 2017

NUM Youth Structure Press Statement after its annual strategic planning session meeting.

The National Union of Mineworkers YouthStructure (NUM-YS) held its annual strategic session meeting on the 25th-27th January 2017 at the NUM College, Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre in Midrand. The National and Regional leadership met with the view to reflect on the previous outcome of National Youth conference and create programme of action that will talk to the needs of young people in NUM and in the country generally.

.The meeting noted with sadness the passing of one of the young and talented gospel singer Lundi Tyamara. The NUM-YS pass its deepest condolences to his family and his supporters during this difficult time.

1. Unity

The meeting agreed that it is the time that we leave all leadership differences we had during the conference and build and grow the NUM. 

2. Corporate Capture

The meeting shared its disappointment on the growing trend of young people joining or assisting people in such tendencies especially tenderpreneurship system. We will work closely with the SACP and the YCL to deepen class consciousness to the society.

3. Retrenchments

The NUM-YS is highly concerned about the coordinated mass retrenchments taking place in the country particularly in the mining industry. The mining companies are deliberately ignoring the section 52 of MPRDA of 2002 that stipulates that “The holder of the mining right must, after consultation with any registered trade union or affected employees or their nominated representatives where there is no such trade union, notify the Minister in the prescribed manner-(a) where prevailing economic conditions cause the profit to revenue ration of the relevant mine to be less than six percent on average for continuous period of 12 months, or (b) if any mining operation is to be scaled down or to cease with the possible affect that 10 percent or more of labour force or more than 500 employees, whichever is lesser, are likely to be retrenched in any 12 months period. 

Mining companies have ignored these factors, and they further target young people by using the Last in First out Policy (LIFO), the policy is anti-Youth and anti-developmental. 

The NUM-YS was angered by the decision of Anglogold Ashanti when they pronounced the retrenchment of over 800 employees which we believe the majority of them will be young people. 

The NUM-YS will soon organise several protest marches against the retrenchments of mineworkers in the mining industry.

4.  On the ANC succession debate

We further reaffirm the decision taken by our mother body NUM and Cosatu on the issue of the ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa being the incoming President of the ANC. The NUM-YS has got full confidence on comrade Cyril Ramaphosa the current deputy President that he will take this country forward

We have noted with disgust the comments made by the ANCYL last week during a press conference that saying  Cosatu cannot pronounce on who must lead the ANC.

We want to remind the ANCYL that it is the working class of this country that supported President Jacob Zuma to ascend to the current position at Polokwane in 2007.

The ANCYL must start talking to issues and matters of youths in the country as they face unemployment,  inequality, poverty and poor education system in the country.

5. On fees must fall

The NUM-YS support the demand of free education for the poor and the working class which we are prepared to do sittings at private sector operations.

6. On Health and Safety

 We have noted with pain the recent fatal statistics released by Minister Mosebenzi (Zupta) Zwane which still indicates the high number of worker's who still die underground in the mining industry in South Africa.

It is high time that parliament must enact  laws that will make it possible to  arrest and jail mining bosses who are causing these fatalities in the mining industry.

For more information, please contact:

Bonginkosi Mrasi: NUM-YS National Secretary: 078 188 4300

Address:

7 Rissik Street.

Cnr Frederick,

Johannesburg  2001

Tel: 011 377 2111

Web: www.num.org.za

Twitter: @Num Media    

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