Tension mounts at South Deep as NUM and UASA accuses Gold Fields Management of 'arrogance' in wage talks

Wage negotiations between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), UASA and Gold Fields’ South Deep management have grown increasingly tense during their fifth round of talks at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways.

While talks continue, the union has sharply criticized the mining house, accusing executives of displaying "pomposity and arrogance" rather than engaging constructively in plenary sessions. NUM and UASA leadership warned management to immediately halt what they described as "instructive and disrespectful behavior," demanding that the union be treated with professional respect to safeguard stable labor relations.

The Core Dispute: A Widening Wage Gap

The friction comes as the parties remain far apart on wage increases, set against a backdrop of surging international gold prices that have boosted Gold Fields’ profitability.

The current on the table include: 

Employee Category                 NUM Demand      Gold Fields Offer
Categories 4–8 (Lowest Paid)        11.0%                      7.0%
Artisans, Miners, & Officials           9.5%                      5.7% 

NUM and UASA argues that the company’s current offers fail to reflect the substantial profits Gold Fields has recently generated from the robust global gold market in light of the production generated by the workforce that will earn these wages.

Demands for Financial Transparency

In a move to persuade the company before the next session, NUM has formally invoked Section 16 of the Labor Relations Act (LRA) 66 of 1995. This statutory provision mandates that employers disclose relevant information to representative trade unions to ensure effective consultation and collective bargaining.

The unions have requested that Gold Fields hand over the following data within a reasonable timeframe before the next round of talks resume:
• Detailed revenue and overall profitability metrics.
• Comprehensive remuneration records and internal dividend and bonus payout structures.

Next Steps

The direction of the negotiations will soon be determined by the workforce. The unions have confirmed they will report the company's latest offer to its members during a mass meeting next week on Tuesday (19 May 2026).

Union leadership emphasized that the workers themselves will ultimately decide whether to accept Gold Fields' current proposal or reject it to push for further negotiations.

For more information, Please Contact:

Ntsane Monaheng, NUM Chief Negotiator at Goldfields, 082 0969930
Vuyo Gubanxa, NUM Gold Fields South deep Branch Secretary, 073 464 2274
Victor Mphore, NUM Gold Fields South deep Branch Chairperson, 063 314 3501

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