NUM-Post special NEC media statement

Press Statement, 10 August 2023

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) can confirm that the National Executive Committee (NEC) during its normal sitting on the 26th to 27th July 2023 took a collective decision to suspend its General Secretary comrade William Mabapa over internal matters that are under investigation.

The NUM special NEC during its sitting on the 9th of August 2023 expressed concern with an article on businesslive.co.za written by Financial Mail Deputy Editor and Columnist Natasha Marrian reporting that the current power play is largely orchestrated by NUM deputy general secretary Mpho Phakedi, who, along with his allies, is seeking to replace Mabapa.

The decision to suspend the NUM General Secretary comrade William Mabapa was taken by the NUM NEC collectively not by a faction or individual.

We note that sponsored malicious agencies represented by different individuals seek to present a fake vacuum to craft a crisis and generate despair. They do so by casting aspersions on the leadership of NUM including singling out individuals. 

As the NUM, we view this as a deliberate attack on the wisdom of collective decision-making and the leadership of the union. We condemn malicious attempts to scapegoat any individual on this decision.

The NEC is further disturbed by the media reports that the General Secretary was suspended because there are people who want to loot the money of the union. The NUM leadership rejects this as desperate propaganda. The MIC which is the Mining Investment Company remains an independent entity governed by the Companies Act. It has an independent board of professionals with reputable integrity and record. This disallows any form of interference in the affairs of the entity. This entity is responsible for funding JB Marks Education Fund engineered to support the tertiary education of members' children across mining, energy, construction, and metal. We are therefore more than committed to ensuring its sustenance.

Furthermore, we have noted with concern the recent Gwede Mantashe public outburst on NUM's decision to suspend its General Secretary. Unfortunately, the National Chairperson of the ANC has invited himself into the internal matters of NUM. 

The NEC takes serious exception to his intrusive political mischief. Other former senior NUM leaders that are self-respecting have had the decency to contact us privately to seek clarity on these developments. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation for their discipline and understanding.

If Mantashe had genuine interest in this regard he knows the channels he should use to engage NUM just like other former leaders of NUM have done and surely public posturing is none of it. The public outbursts by Mantashe are not innocent; they are driven by desperate opportunism now that the ANC Parliamentary Deployment List Process machinery is imminent to roll.

Thus to say the decision of the NEC is madness is a serious assault on the integrity of those who were elected to lead NUM. For now, the suspension remains and if we seek counsel we would go to him, or Cyril Ramaphosa, Kgalema Motlanthe, James Motlatsi and so on.  

Mantashe must be reminded of his own 'madness'. For instance, when the ANC suspended and expelled its Secretary General Ace Magashule we respected their decision and never interfered. When the ANC expelled Carl Niehaus we respected this decision too. When the ANC expelled Julius Malema we still respected their decision. 

We, therefore, call for equal respect from him as Chair of ANC. He should stop his freelancing commentary on NUM affairs and channel his negative energies on the mayhem caused by illegal mining and its damage to the economy and working-class communities of our country. He should advance ANC Renewal. Here and now the rogue must stop.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Dan Balepile, NUM President, 074 439 9752

Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257

Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255

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