NUM is aware of lies or fake news being peddled in the media that the NUM General Secretary comrade David Sipunzi is allegedly flirting with SAFTU

Press Statement, 15 May 2018

NUM is aware of lies or fake news being peddled in the media that the NUM General Secretary comrade David Sipunzi is allegedly flirting with SAFTU.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) calls on its members to be aware of lies or fake news that are being peddled by the mainstream media that the NUM General Secretary comrade David Sipunzi is allegedly flirting with the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU). The NUM is reliably informed that a senior journalist from a reputable Sunday newspaper is going to publish these lies or fake news this coming Sunday. We have evidence about these lies or fake news that are going to be published.

This is part of a smear campaign by faceless sources that feed media with lies or fake news that if a particular leader emerges at the upcoming NUM National Congress the NUM will join SAFTU. We have said it before after the Business Day newspaper published the same lies or fake news that the NUM will never join SAFTU without a mandate from its members in mining, energy, and construction. These lies or fake news are meant to tarnish the image of the NUM and its General Secretary comrade David Sipunzi. We want to warn our members in mining, energy and construction sectors that they must be aware of these lies or fake news that are peddled by the media and faceless sources. We have said it on record that the NUM will never join SAFTU. It is a lie.

It is also disturbing that some of these journalists are even refusing to interview the NUM General Secretary but are willing to publish these lies or fake news. Why would the mainstream media want to publish a story without interviewing the person who is being allegedly accused? What is their agenda? We suspect that these lies or fake news are being manufactured by the mainstream media and its faceless sources. These lies or fake news are extremely dangerous and are based on false rumours.

The NUM has said it before that these lies or fake news are intended to deliberately cause conflict among the members of the NUM. We expect journalists, as they are workers themselves, to report factually about worker issues and refrain from journalism which is sensational and only serve to further divide the workers.

The NUM reassure journalists that it is still committed to working harmoniously with media. The mainstream media must find time to talk to us and stop publishing lies or fake news. We are calling on the mainstream media to investigate and produce evidence rather than publishing lies or fake news. We expect journalists or media to be truth tellers and must stop publishing lies or fake news without investigating them.

For more information, please contact:

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

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