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Afro Voice reports that the mining charter and escalating fatalities will come under focus during the three-day NUM congress starting today in Boksburg.
More than 800 delegates are expected to engage on the mining sector’s pressing issues. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the congress tomorrow. Media officer Luphert Chilwane said it was all systems go for the congress and that today the president of the union, Piet Matosa, and general-secretary David Sipunzi are going to unpack their reports.
Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the confederation took note of the fact that the sector is faced with many challenges such as fatalities and job losses. He called on the congress to robustly discuss how jobs could be saved in the ailing industry. “The number of mine accidents and fatalities have been steadily going up in the last couple of years and we still have situations like Lily Mine, where the remains of the workers are yet to be found,” he said.
Pamla said there was a need for the congress to come up with tangible solutions how to tackle the challenges.
“Coming out of this congress, we expect to work with a united NUM to intensify our living wage campaign through intensifying our struggle to combat unfairness in the workplace.”
He said they expect NUM to come up with plans to stop the recently signed Independent Power Producers (IPP) programme. The recent draft of the mining charter is expected to top the agenda as the union has called for the workers to benefit from mining activities as shareholders.
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said the congress needed to deal with “greedy” mining bosses.
He said the development of workers was lacking with a lack of focus on the workers’ health and safety. He said the mining industry was still the most critical sector in the country, which needed cooperation from all stakeholders.
Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe and Energy Minister Jeff Radebe are also expected to address the delegates.
Sipunzi said they were going to take stock and reflect on the progress they had made since the previous congress.
The original of this report by Tiisetso Manoko appeared on page 5 of Afro Voice of 20 June 2018
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