NUM Kwazuli-Natal region is making an appeal to government and traditional leaders to intervene on RGE ongoing retrenchment of vulnerable workers at Somkhele mine

Press Statement, 11 March 2022

NUM Kwazuli-Natal region is making an appeal to government and traditional leaders to intervene on RGE ongoing retrenchment of vulnerable workers at Somkhele mine

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) KwaZulu-Natal region strongly condemns the cold treatetment given to vulnerable workers at Somkhele mine by stakeholders that included the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the KwaZulu-Natal local government and the traditional leaders.

More than 180 workers at the mine are being retrenched due to their lack of capacity to resolve their relocation processes and the continued case revoking the operating licence of the mine.

"It is concerning that all stakeholders decided to keep quite. Their silence is so far deafining. As the NUM in KwaZulu-Natal we are calling upon the MCEJO & GET FOUNDATIONDMRE (which are both nongovernmental organisations based there) to stop frustrating and questioning the existence of the mine. Their persistence is viewed as a direct attack on the employment of our members”, said Muzikayise Zakwe, NUM KwaZulu-Natal Regional Secretary.

Workers at the mine have already expressed frustrations as they fear that there will be more job losses in the area that already has high rate of unemployment.

The NUM in the region is planning a colossal march with a view of creating public awareness that these anticipated job losses will lead to poverty and other social challenges. Date of the march will be communicated very soon.