SABC News reports that Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), has written to the Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, requesting him to intervene over the plight of ex-employees of Aquarius Resources.  

They were dismissed in 2009, allegedly after embarking on an unprotected wage strike.  More than a 1,000 of the ex-employees received food parcels from Mathunjwa on Saturday.  They said they have been living in abject poverty since their dismissals.  Mathunjwa says his union could not look away as the former miners continued to suffer.  “These are our fellow blacks and fathers who deserve better.  I wrote a letter to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, to request a meeting to discuss how to address the situation.  This is temporary, not permanent and it is not sustainable.  These workers have skills and they can be employed elsewhere.  We have been told by them they have been blacklisted.”

• Based on reports at SABC News and on page 10 of The New Age of 6 June 2016

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