NUM highveld region to lead a mass protest against ESKOM unbundling and irresponsible mining operations in Mpumalanga

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Highveld Region will lead a peaceful protest march on Friday, 17 April 2026, to voice deep-seated frustration with Eskom’s current trajectory and the deteriorating state of the mining industry.

March Details

• Starting time: 9 am and handover of the memorandum at 12 pm.
• Route: From Broadway Spar to Witbank Eskom Park.
• Objective: To submit memorandums of grievance to Eskom, the Office of the Premier of Mpumalanga, and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR).

Opposition to Eskom Unbundling

The NUM remains vehemently opposed to the concerted efforts by Eskom and the Government to unbundle the power utility. We view the proposed "Public Private Partnerships" as a disguised attempt to privatize the national energy grid.

"It is our firm view that once the energy grid is outsourced to private entities, South Africa will lose its sovereignty," says Tshilidzi Mathavha, NUM Highveld Regional Secretary. "No sovereign nation should outsource its grid, as doing so places economic development and social needs at the mercy of private companies. This appears to be a well-orchestrated move by those in power to sell portions of Eskom to themselves.”

Demands to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

The NUM will also submit a memorandum to the Office of the Premier. As the province hosting the majority of the country's power stations, Mpumalanga is the nation’s energy heartbeat. The NUM calls on the provincial government to lead economic development without collapsing the existing provincial economy. We demand a collaborative approach to defend the industries that have sustained this province for decades.

Crisis in the Mining Industry

The Union is further alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the mining sector. We have observed a disturbing trend where mining license holders are replacing permanent staff with contractors and service providers.

This outsourcing of core business operations is a tactical move to perpetuate "labour brokering," resulting in workers being subjected to lower wages and dire working conditions. We condemn the practice of retrenching permanent employees only to reopen operations using outsourced labour.

The NUM believes the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has failed in its duty to hold mining license holders accountable. Consequently, a memorandum will be delivered to the Department demanding immediate intervention and accountability.

For more information and media interviews, please contact:

Tshilidzi Mathavha, NUM Highveld Regional Secretary, 082 388 3297

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/10086002340216