The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) says its members at Implats mine in Rustenburg are under threat, following the assassination of a union recruiter Malibongwe Mdazo last week.

Mdazo was shot dead outside the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) while verification of Numsa membership of workers at Newrak, a mining services company, was underway. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says Mdazo was killed while taking a break from the CCMA proceedings. The union suspects the recruiter was shot because he was a mass mobiliser. His death has shaken workers at Implats. “Tensions have been caused by contract companies at Implats. There are five contract companies which provide services to Implats. The majority of the workforce to Implats is outsourced to the contractors. These contractors are refusing to recognise Numsa. They are actively undermining our efforts and, in some cases, forcing workers to renounce their membership of Numsa,” Hlubi-Majola claimed. She accused the contractors of meddling with the workers’ choice of either Numsa or Amcu: “We believe comrade Mdazo was killed because he is responsible for recruiting thousands of workers to Numsa, this is why he was murdered. There are some who are threatened by Numsa taking over as the dominant union at Implats and the contractors may be involved.” Police are investigating Mdazo’s murder. Meanwhile, Numsa workers at Implats have been asked to be vigilant.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa on page 4 of The Star of 24 August 2021

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