NUM POST-NEC media statement (3)

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) convened its Ordinary National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on the 25th and 26th February 2025 at the NUM College Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC). The NEC thoroughly assessed the struggles facing mineworkers, energy workers, construction workers, and metalworkers and resolved on the following issues.

1. Regional marches to target Eskom and relevant government departments.

The NEC has officially resolved to launch a series of coordinated regional marches across all 11 NUM regions. These mass mobilizations will target Eskom offices and various government departments to voice the union’s categorical rejection of the unbundling and looming privatization of the national power utility.

The NEC wishes to be unequivocally clear: We fundamentally reject the unbundling of Eskom in any form. Our long-standing position remains unchanged, regardless of the proposed structural or regulatory revisions.

This policy of separating Eskom into multiple entities (Generation, Transmission, and Distribution) is a neo-liberal project designed to dismantle a vital state asset and facilitate the wholesale privatization of South Africa’s energy sector.

The NEC views the current trajectory of Eskom’s restructuring not as a solution to energy stability, but as a direct threat to energy sovereignty, job security, and the affordability of electricity for the working class and the poor.

The core objectives of these marches include:

• Halting Unbundling: Opposing the fragmentation of Eskom into separate entities, which the union believes is a precursor to a full-scale sell-off.

• Rejecting Privatization: Demanding that Eskom remains a 100% state-owned and state-funded utility dedicated to public service rather than private profit.

• Protecting Jobs: Safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of workers within the energy value chain who face uncertainty due to these structural changes.

• Ensuring Energy Justice: Advocating for an energy transition that does not leave workers and communities stranded while electricity prices become prohibitive.

The NUM NEC has mandated all 11 regions to begin immediate preparations for these marches. We call on our members, civil society, and the broader working class to join us in defending a national asset that belongs to the people of South Africa.

Specific dates and logistical arrangements for each regional march will be communicated by the respective regional leadership in the coming days.

2. NEC Strongly Opposes Indefinite "Care and Maintenance" Status for Mines
The NEC wishes to register its strongest opposition to the growing trend of mining companies placing operations under "care and maintenance."

The NEC views the transition of productive mines into indefinite care and maintenance as a tactical maneuver by mining houses to bypass their social and labour obligations while holding mineral rights hostage. This practice effectively freezes local economies and leaves thousands of workers and their families in a state of permanent uncertainty.

Key Positions of the NEC:

• Against Indefinite Stalls: The NEC asserts that mines cannot and must not be kept in care and maintenance indefinitely. If a company is unable or unwilling to operate a shaft, they must relinquish the right to those who are prepared to invest in the local economy.

• Socio-Economic Impact: Care and maintenance is often a "slow death" for mining communities. The loss of active employment leads to the collapse of local businesses and a decline in the social fabric of the surrounding areas.

• Demand for Accountability: The NUM calls on the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) to intervene and set strict timeframes for how long a mine can remain inactive before its license is reviewed or revoked.

The NUM remains committed to protecting the livelihoods of its members and ensuring that South Africa’s mineral wealth is used to benefit the people, not left dormant in the ground for the sake of corporate convenience.

3. NUM NEC is opposed to transmission asset transfer (ownership) to an independent TSO.

The NEC has noted the directive issued by President Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address of 12 February 2026 instructing that the assets of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) a wholly owned Eskom Holdings SOC LTD subsidiary, be transferred to a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) outside of Eskom Holdings, despite the Energy Regulation Amendment Act not providing an express empowering provision for such an end state of ownership.

The NUM reiterates its well-established opposition to the unbundling of Eskom in any form. We have consistently maintained that separating Eskom into multiple entities risks serving the interests of private capital at the expense of workers, vulnerable communities, and the long-term energy security of South Africa. The President’s SONA directive does not alter this position. The NEC calls on all progressive trade unions, all progressive NGOs, all progressive political parties to unite and fight this neo-liberal pathway imposed by the government.

4. HEALTH & SAFETY REMAINS A CHALLENGE AT THE WORKPLACE

• Zero Tolerance for Fatalities

The NUM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principle of Zero Harm. One life lost is one life too many. We will not sit idly by while the mining industry treats fatalities as "statistical probabilities" rather than preventable tragedies.

• Accountability at Ekapa Mine

We demand an accelerated search and rescue operation and a full, transparent investigation into the incident that has left five of workers missing. The families of these workers deserve answers, and those responsible must be held accountable.

We are prepared to take any necessary action to ensure that 2026 does not become another year defined by mourning and industrial negligence. Our members do not go underground to die; they go to work to provide for their families.

The struggle for a safe working environment is not a suggestion—it is a fundamental right that the NUM will defend with everything at its disposal.

We call upon the Department to speed up the process of releasing 2025 safety result: to allow stakeholders to plan better for the new year in terms of realizing Zero harm. We note with concern the already registered fatal accident in 2026. The sector seems to be losing this battle; the NUM will not allow that happens in the expense of workers.

5. NEC noted with deep concern suspension of operations at Phalaborwa Mining Company

The suspension, triggered by relentless heavy rains in the Phalaborwa area, has forced a total standstill of mining activities. The NEC is particularly alarmed by the company’s decision to place permanent mine employees on compulsory annual leave and the unilateral suspension of contractor agreements.

According to reports received by the NEC, the mine is currently battling a massive influx of underground water. Despite pumping out a staggering 48 million litres of water daily, the situation remains critical.

While we acknowledge the natural disaster elements at play, we call upon the management of PMC to expedite the recovery and dewatering efforts. The primary goal must be the safe and swift return of our members to work.

We insist that no worker should be sent back underground until a comprehensive safety assessment has been conducted, and the underground environment is certified as 100% safe.

The NUM will continue to monitor the situation at PMC closely. Our members’ livelihoods depend on the operational stability of this mine, and we hope the current efforts yield positive results so that normalcy can be restored to the PMC.

6. NEC welcomes the SANDF Deployment to combat illegal mining.

The NEC officially welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to assist in the fight against illegal mining and the escalating wave of gang violence in mining communities.

The NEC views the presence of the military as a necessary and decisive intervention to restore law and order in areas that have been besieged by criminal syndicates. However, the NUM maintains that the deployment of soldiers is a temporary tactical measure that addresses the symptoms rather than the root cause of the crisis.

On Mine Rehabilitation and Food Security 

The NEC is of the firm view that the long-term solution to illegal mining lies in the aggressive rehabilitation of old, abandoned mine shafts. These sites, which currently serve as hubs for illicit activities, must be closed permanently to eliminate the infrastructure that sustains "zama-zamas."

Crucially, the NUM calls for the state and the private sector to move beyond mere closure and toward land repurposing. The NEC proposes that rehabilitated mining land be converted for agricultural use.

While we appreciate the President's commitment to securing our communities through the SANDF, the bigger strategy must be economic and environmental. We cannot simply guard empty holes indefinitely. Mining houses must be held accountable where necessary. The government must compel the rehabilitation of these mines and facilitate their transition into agricultural hubs that feed and employ our people."

The NUM remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the mining industry benefits the working class and that mining communities are safe, productive, and sustainable.

7. NEC demands aggressive investment in mineral exploration.

The NEC is making a clarion call for a renewed and aggressive focus on mineral exploration. It is our firm belief that the discovery and extraction of new mineral deposits are the lifeblood of a thriving mining sector, serving as the primary engine for massive job creation and robust economic growth.

However, the NEC views the current landscape with deep skepticism; we are questioning whether investors and mining companies possess the genuine desire and "appetite" to commit to the long-term exploration of new minerals in South Africa. For too long, we have seen a trend of capital flight and a focus on short-term gains rather than the foundational investment required to unlock the country's untapped geological potential.

Exploration is not a luxury; it is a necessity. To reverse the current economic stagnation, South Africa must identify the "minerals of the future" that will power global industrialization. The NEC emphasizes that the exploration phase is the starting point for addressing the unemployment crisis that continues to plague our communities.

We call on mining houses and financial institutions to move beyond rhetoric. The NEC demands a tangible commitment to exploration projects that will extend the life of the mining industry for generations to come.

The NUM will not sit idly by while the potential of our mineral wealth remains buried due to a lack of investment will. We demand a mining sector that is forward-looking, transformative, and committed to the industrial development of South Africa.

8. NEC strongly condemns the abrupt liquidation of Ekapa Mine, a reckless disregard for lives and livelihoods.

The NEC expresses its profound shock and absolute outrage at the sudden decision by the Board of Ekapa Mine to place the operation into liquidation with immediate effect.

This cold-blooded decision follows the harrowing incident two weeks ago where five workers were trapped underground following a mudrush. Rather than prioritizing the safety and well-being of its workforce, the company has chosen to abandon its obligations entirely.

Health and Safety Negligence

The NEC has been reliably informed of persistent and unresolved health and safety issues at Ekapa Mine. It is becoming increasingly clear that the company is using liquidation as a convenient escape route to avoid accountability for the lapse in safety standards that led to the recent underground disaster.

The NUM will not allow a situation where workers’ lives are treated as expendable line items in a corporate ledger.

The Socio-Economic Catastrophe

The immediate closure of Ekapa Mine is a devastating blow to the Northern Cape economy. Over 1,000 workers now face the grim reality of unemployment. Research confirms that one mineworker supports at least ten family members. This decision effectively sentences over 10,000 people in Kimberley and surrounding areas to immediate poverty and unemployment. This move further widens the gap of inequality in a region already struggling with limited economic opportunities.

9. THE NEC DEEPLY CONCERNED BY STALLED ACQUISITION OF CAST PRODUCTS SOUTH AFRICA

The NEC expresses its grave concern regarding the deteriorating situation at Cast Products South Africa, which has remained under Business Rescue since January 2022.

The NEC is particularly alarmed by the prolonged delay in finalizing the sale of the company from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to Metalbridge. This administrative inertia is now directly threatening the livelihoods of 700 workers and the long-term viability of the entity.

Operational Collapse and Non-Payment of Salaries and Production at Cast Products South Africa has been suspended since December 2025. Compounding this crisis, workers have not received their salaries for February 2026, and the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) has failed to provide any guarantee regarding future payments.

The NEC further condemns the blatant infringement of workers' statutory rights. It has come to our attention that deductions for medical aid, tax (SARS), life insurance, and other benefits are being taken from workers' meager earnings but are not being remitted to the relevant institutions. This is not only unethical but potentially illegal, leaving workers vulnerable without the very social safety nets they pay for.

We call upon the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to intervene immediately to safeguard these 700 critical industrial jobs.

As the primary shareholder, the IDC must provide the necessary bridge funding to sustain operations and ensure salary obligations are met until the transaction with Metalbridge is concluded.

The NEC calls for the immediate termination of the Business Rescue process. The current BRP-led model has failed to stabilize the company and is instead eroding the vital relationship between the company and its customer base.

We demand that the IDC and the Ministry act with the urgency this crisis deserves.

10. The NEC raises alarm over surge in fully built vehicle imports.

The NEC expresses its grave concern regarding the future of South Africa’s automotive sector. The industry is currently facing a coordinated assault from an unchecked influx of Completely Built-Up (CBU) automobile products from foreign nations, most notably China.

The NUM views this trend not merely as a trade imbalance, but as a direct threat to the industrial fabric of our nation and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

Exploitation Without Investment

Foreign companies are increasingly treating the African market as a dumping ground for finished goods. These entities are exploiting local consumer demand without making any meaningful investment in the local economy. By refusing to establish manufacturing or assembly plants on the African continent, these corporations are exporting South African jobs and capital to foreign shores.

Regulatory Non-Compliance and Worker Exploitation

The NUM has identified specific hotspots of non-compliance, particularly within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Eastern Cape. Our investigations reveal that certain foreign entities are flagrantly disregarding sectoral regulations. This defiance has resulted in:

• The systematic underpayment of workers.

• Sub-standard working conditions that undermine hard-won labour rights.

• A "race to the bottom" regarding regional wage standards.

The NUM recently secured a landmark victory at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) against one of these entities. This victory confirms our stance that these companies are operating outside the bounds of South African labour law.

A Call for Ministerial Intervention

The NUM refuses to stand by while the automotive sector is hollowed out by predatory trade practices. We are calling for the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to intervene immediately.

The NUM demands:

1. Strict Import Regulations: A review of tariffs and quotas on CBU units to favor local assembly and manufacturing.

2. Compliance Audits: Immediate, unannounced inspections of all foreign-owned automotive firms in the Eastern Cape and other SEZs to ensure total adherence to labor laws and sectoral determinations.

3. Local Content Mandates: Policy enforcement that requires foreign companies to invest in local production infrastructure if they wish to access the South African consumer market.

The future of South Africa as an industrial powerhouse depends on our ability to protect our domestic industries. The NUM remains committed to fighting for a sector that prioritizes local workers over foreign profit.

11. Black Mountain's Exploitative Outsourcing and Looming Retrenchments

• The NEC stand against the egregious and exploitative outsourcing model being aggressively pursued by Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) and its subsidiary, Black Mountain Mine, which threatens mass retrenchments.

The NUM views this policy as nothing less than economic sabotage, social vandalism, and modern-day corporate colonialism. It reflects an arrogant disregard for workers and communities by VZI Chairman Anil Agarwal.

The NEC outrightly rejects this anti-worker, anti-community, and anti development agenda. This outsourcing model is not about efficiency; it's about retrenchment, exploitation, and profit maximization at the expense of workers and the dignity of their labor.

The Devastating Impact of VZI's "International Best Practice"

We wish to remind the public what this so-called "international best practice" truly entails for our members and the surrounding communities:

• Erosion of Workers' Benefits: Workers currently hold a 5% stake in the company through the Employee Profit Sharing Scheme. Outsourcing will strip them of this hard-won equity and prevent them from accruing vital retirement savings due to the unstable nature of contract work.

• Loss of Family Homes: Employees housed in company-owned homes many for over 30 years – face eviction. The NUM was in advanced negotiations to secure ownership of these homes, a historic process that outsourcing will abruptly cancel.

• Destruction of Pension Security: The instability of contract work makes long-term retirement planning impossible. Our members will be cast into old-age poverty.

• Social and Economic Instability: This model has already failed in the region, leading to an influx of vulnerable migrant labor, homelessness, and the uncontrolled expansion of informal settlements, which have become breeding grounds for poverty and crime.

• Wage Regression and Exploitation: Workers employed by contractors are forced to start from entry-level wages, even with years of experience. This is economic violence.

• Deepening Social Ills: The outsourcing system has demonstrably deepened poverty, homelessness, domestic instability, and crime. VZI's "cost reduction" narrative is directly leading to the uncontrollable establishment of informal areas, which become black spots of poverty and suffering.

• Uncontrolled Retrenchments: VZI and its contractors have implemented reckless retrenchments over the past four years, driving up unemployment and desperation in the area.

12. DELAYS BY DoEL REGARDING PROMULGATING SECTOR AGREEMENTS IN PARTICULAR IN CONSTRUCTION and METAL SECTORS

The NEC reflected on the impact; of the delays caused by the Department of Employment and Labor to workers. The NEC found it unacceptable that promulgations of agreements are delayed and workers are not paid their increases on time firstly; secondly loss on back-pay purely because the minister has not done the deed. We have resolved to engage with the ministry to find a solution collectively.

Unions in both Metal and Construction sectors Bargaining Councils must ensure that companies are forced to implement agreements as promulgated; as NUM we are ready to engage in the campaign to force the sectors and respective companies to implement timeously and be compliant.

For more information, please contact:

Mpho Phakedi, NUM General Secretary, 082 882 3452
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/10086002340216