The National Union of Mineworkers is highly concerned about the propaganda, which is spreading, and circulating in the Bokoni mine relating to the retrenchment agreement recall clause signed in 2017

Press Statement, 06 December 2023

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the North East Region would like to clarify the people who are misleading the public regarding the Bokoni Platinum Mine 2017 Retrenchment agreement recall clause that NUM is failing to implement it.

In 2017, the company Bokoni Platinum Mine served the three unions that were recognised by that time with a Section 189 separation/retrenchment agreement notice anticipating retrenching of all the employees within the operation and ultimately the company was put under business rescue in line with the company’s act. The three unions which were involved in the discussion of the conclusion of the contest were; TAWUSA, USASA and NUM. Some people are going around Bokoni Platinum Mine making allegations that NUM has sold out workers. The NUM is a tried and tested union which was formed in 1982 and at no stage it has sold out its members and has achieved a lot for its members, some of the benefits such as the introduction of the Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act, and Mine & Health Safety Act just to list the few. It is against this background that we would like to caution those unions that are mushrooming and some community leaders who are misleading the public regarding the recall clause.

NUM would like to make a clarion call to those who are reading this clause in reverse and for the mere fact that they are not party to the agreement they stand no chance to advocate for the agreement. The only unions that can engage in the agreement are three unions, which were party to the agreement during itssignature. NUM is not going to allow a space where any Mickey Mouse union or any self-proclaimed community leader deliberately misled its ex-members on a document that they don’t understand and that they were not party to the agreement.

We are reiterating our call to our former members not to listen to any shenanigans that are busy trying to drag the NUM's name under the mud in particular on workplace struggle issues.

In 2023, the NUM showcased its commitment towards workers and moved swiftly to sign a new recognition agreement at Bokoni Platinum Mine that will give access to the union to recruit, bargain and raise all issues that affect members, ex-employees and the surrounding community.

Below is an illustration of Employment stats;
Grading                  Ex –employees              total mine
Band: C, D & E      80                                   165
Band: B                 188                                  257
Total                      268                                  422

The above graph shows the good work that NUM has already done in making sure that the ex-employees are considered when opportunities arise in the mine. NUM would like to make it clear that we are going to continue with a fight for the rights of workers and we stand by the slogan which says; “Nothing about us without us”.

The NUM is calling upon its ex-members to remain calm and not to entertain those clowns who are masquerading around as agents of hope, such people are enemies of progress.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Phillip Mankge, NUM North East Regional Secretary, 076 053 3401

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