Phone: +27 (0) 830 123 543 Email: info@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
Members first
Phone: +27 (0) 11 377 2198/9 Email: tphoko@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
NUM Press Statement, 06 September 2017
Careless and reckless Transhex subject workers to abject poverty and unemployment.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is shocked and disgusted after it received Section 189 notice from Transhex to retrench 332 permanent employees in Northern Cape last week. The number excludes close to 200 contractors who are also facing these retrenchments.
The NUM strongly condemns this irresponsible company. The jobs bloodbath is a clear attack on the working class, communities and the poor, a direct attack on mine workers in particular.
In 2015 Transhex closed its Reuning operation which resulted in over 100 VSPs; 3 months ago the company took another selfish decision of closing Bloedrift operations, 120 workers took VSPs and the Richtersveld lost their jobs. Transhex is now contemplating a closure of the last LOR operation and in all closures, the company disregarded the application of Section 52 MPRDA to save these valuable jobs in poverty stricken Namakwa Region.
The NUM engaged the DMR regional manager, wrote submissions to the portfolio committee on minerals and nothing was done to ensure compliance.
The NUM therefore deeply is angered, disgusted and disappointed by the inaction and silence of the useless and toothless Minister and Department of Mineral Resources as the regulator.
"We vow to mobilise our members and communities to support all legitimate initiative by NUM to ensure the company listen to usNUM will host its Western Cape Region Mining Shop steward Council on 16 September 2017 in Springbok and we call on the ANC led Provincial government led by Premier Sylvia Lukas, the ANC Provincial Chairperson and the useless DMR to come and explain their action and plans to the workers to retain jobs in the mining industry," said Lefa Phatsoane, NUM Western Cape Regional Secretary.
“We beg you to stop leading us from a distance and continuously remain silent on matters that affect the working class and the poor," Phatsoane added.
For more information, please contact:
Lefa Phatsoane: NUM Western Cape Regional Secretary: 082 882 0199Livhuwani Mammburu: NUM National Spokesperson: 083 809 3257
Address:7 Rissik Street.Cnr Frederick,Johannesburg 2001Tel: 011 377 2111 Web: www.num.org.za Twitter: @Num Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167
Its birth was facilitated by comrades Cyril Ramaphosa who rose to be its first General Secretary, James Motlatsi who turned to be its first President, and Elijah Barayi who became its Vice President and later the President of Cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. porn