NUM Western Cape region pays tribute to comrade Patrick Khwalo Mnqamduku

Press Statement, 31 August 2020

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Western Cape Region pays tribute to comrade Patrick Khwalo Mnqamduku. Comrade Mnqamduku was a committed trade unionist, negotiator and community activist. He died on Friday, 28 August 2020 following a short illness. He was dedicated and loyal to the workers cause and he served for decades as a shop steward of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and branch chairperson of R + N Construction Company.

At the time of his passing, comrade Patrick was the ANC’s deputy chairperson and councillor of ward 88 in Phillippi in the City of Cape Town. He previously worked for R+N, a Construction company based in Cape. As a worker in the construction industry, he joined a trade union, the NUM where he served as its branch chairperson for years.

His commitment to serving the workers earned him the respect of the construction workers beyond the company he worked for and thus he was deployed to serve in the Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC) as a representative of the NUM. He repositioned the bargaining as a council capable of protecting the rights of the workers from the greedy capitalist employers.

As the NUM in the Western Cape Region, we deep our banner and salute this giant trade unionist and community activist. We shall pick up the fallen spear and continue with the fight against the exploitation of all workers in the construction industry.

In memory of comrade Siphiwo Patrick Mnqamnduku, the NUM calls for the unity of the working class to defend our communities from destructions by lumpens and populist demagogue who use genuine grievances of our people for their narrow interests. Thugs, criminals and their corrupt network who touch and stone Eskom and municipality vehicles coming to our townships to provide services must be exposed and isolated. In his memory, we shall not surrender our communities to thugs and criminals even if their networks are amongst our organisations.

Further, the NUM warns employers and particularly the construction industry to put the health and safety of the workers first and desist from attempts to use the COVID-19 crisis as their convenient excuse to retrench and lay-off workers.

Hamba kahle Mzangwa, Mlanjna, Khwalo, Ncuthu!!

For more information, please contact:

Soso Fisa, NUM Western Cape Regional Secretary, 073 159 5213

Address:
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick,
Johannesburg 2001
Tel: 011 377 2111
Web: www.num.org.za

Twitter: @Num Media

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