NUM National Women Structure post-constitutional meeting

Media Statement, 14 May 2024

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) National Women Structure convened its constitutional meeting on the 08th – 09th May 2024 at Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre in Midrand.

The meeting was organised under the theme: “Women, LGBTQIA+ inclusion and Gender Transformation are the centre core of the NUM championed by the Women Structure”

Amongst priority issues discussed at the meeting are:

Increasing rate of Gender-Based Violence

The Women Structure has noted with dismay increasing rate of gender-based violence that has left many women and children in various communities living in fear. Such acts are being committed by people very closed to the victims.

On such matters, we want to call on our government to be proactive, and take much stronger actions against the perpetrators. Gender-Based Violence is a serious criminal offence that deserves harsher penalty.

As the NUM Women Structure, we further want to challenge the Minister responsible for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities to be firm when dealing with gender-based violence.

As the country is gearing up to the commemoration of Women’s Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children, as Women Structure, we demand to see the following being modified:

•Protection Order
•Decent accommodation for GBV victims, and those shelters be extended from the current minimus of 18 months to 36 months
•Allocation of budget that will provide proper and adequate funding for the well-being and security of all GBV victims

Gender-based violence against women and children is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime, surprisingly and or sadly men are also victims of the scourge. Considering the pandemic of GBVHF in home and workplace, the NUM National Women Structure has established what is called Syked.

Syked is a company of professional Therapists and Social Workers that provide counselling on various challenges faced by members of the NUM and their dependents.

NUM Members have an option of engaging with the GBV hotline via virtual, that is telephonic and video contact sessions or self-help resources or face to face sessions.”

Modes of communication are:
WhatsApp support line: 010 746 0844
Website query chat: www.syked.co.za
Office line: 010 746 0844
Email: support@syked.co.za
GBV Hotline (24 hours): 010 746 3755

Women on Women Victimisation and Harassment

We are strongly opposing the trend and behaviour of women in higher positions using power to harass and or victimise other women within places of work. No one has a right to abuse, harass and victimise another individual / employee / members regardless of their gender, sex orientation / preference, race, believes, work and or position.

Sibanye-Stillwater Job Losses

Our country’s economy is faced with significant challenges in terms of job losses. The attitude demonstrated by Sibanye-Stillwater adds salt in the wound of the already fragile economy.

The plan to retrench more than 4 000 workers would heavily impact in most family households, with women being the ones carrying the brunt. When one job is lost, a woman is the one to carry the responsibility of keeping fires burning in the homes.

When there are job cuts women, and the youth are the ones to be first on the list and solely because of the “Last in First Out” principle, and we are demanding that principle should be amended.

If Sibanye-Stillwater is unable to save and protect jobs they must just hand-over the mining certificate to other potential investors who can do things much differently for the betterment of the country’s economy.

Regional and Branch Conferences

The year 2024 is the year of branches and regional conferences. As the National Women Structure, we would like to wish all NUM members, women membership in particular, that in their preparations and participation towards these conferences they should be driven by one thing, to save the union from the predators. We need to have capable and progressive leaders taking over and pushing forward the
women workers agenda.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Mathapelo Khanye, NUM Women Structure National Secretary, 082 561 201

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