More than 100 NUM members are held hostage underground at Lanxess Mine by NUMSA members

Press Statement, 13 February 2020

MORE THAN 100 NUM MEMBERS ARE HELD HOSTAGE UNDERGROUND AT LANXESS MINE BY NUMSA MEMBERS

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is deeply concerned that over a hundred of its members are currently being held hostage underground at Lanxess Mine in Rustenburg.

"The situation was caused by NUMSA members deciding to go on an unprotected strike during their mass meeting this morning (13 February 2020). NUM offices at the operation were taken over by force with NUM shop stewards manhandled in the process in full view of company security," said Unforget Dube, NUM Branch Chairperson at Lanxess Mine.

Lanxess management has been rendered powerless since the NUMSA sanctioned underground sit-in that lasted 9 days in June 2019. Management inability to control the situation has ensured that NUM members are victimised with impunity daily.

NUM members at Lanxess Mine have a constitutional right to belong to the union of their choice. They will never be forced to join NUMSA.

For more information, please contact:

Unforget Dube, NUM Lanxess Mine Branch Chairperson, 079 239 6419

Brahms Mokobane, NUM Lanxess Mine Branch Youth Structure Chairperson, 071 948 3427

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