NUM calls on Impala Platinum's Bafokeng Rasimone mine management not to dismiss more than 2000 workers who staged a sit-in undergorund this week

Media Statement, 23 December 2023

The National Union of Mineworkers calls on Impala Platinum's Bafokeng Rasimone Mine management not be hostile and dismiss more than 2,000 mineworkers who staged an underground sit-in at the mine this week. The workers came back to the surface onWednesd ay ending a three-day impasse.

The 2,205 workers embarked on a sit-in underground on Monday to demand the immediate payment of pension funds after the mine's recent change of ownership.

The NUM is currently engaging the mine management not to dismiss more than 2000 mineworkers who staged a sit-in underground. The company is adamant that it is going to dismiss all workers who embarked on a sit-in underground. The NUM leaders led by NUM President Dan Balepile are currently engaging the company to make sure that NUM members are not dismissed and that jobs are saved. The NUM wants to put it on record that the negotiations are extremely difficult, but the NUM leadership is doing its best. The NUM does not support sit-ins and hostages underground as underground is not conducive for prolonged stay. The NUM is calling on its members to refrain from staging sit-ins underground and use other lawful and proper channels to raise their concerns.

We are also calling on our members not to be misled by hooligans and criminals from rogue unions to stage sit-ins and hostages underground. These hooligans and criminals from rogue unions have subjected innocent workers to assault, kidnapping, torture, humiliation, violation and discrimination like we recently saw at Gold One Mine in Springs. The same hooligans and criminals from rogue unions cannot subject their own family members to torture and humiliation that they are subjecting to mineworkers in this country. This is a pure act of criminality and the law enforcement agencies must start arresting these hooligans and criminals. It is sad that some of these hooligans and criminals from rogue unions who subject workers to assault and torture are walking free at Gold One mine.

Lastly, the NUM is doing its utmost best to engage the company notnto dismiss more than 2000 whom stage a sit-in underground this week.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Mpho Phakedi, NUM Deputy General Secretary, 082 882 3452
Geoffrey Moatshe, NUM Rustenburg Regional Secretary, 081 593 6089
Livhuwani Mammburu, 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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