Monday, May 28, 2018

Post-NUM Youth Structure Committee Meeting Press Statement
28 May 2018

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM-YS) held its National Youth Committee (NYC) meeting over the weekend from the 25-27 May 2018 at the NUM College Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre EBMTC, Midrand and this was their last meeting before the NUM national congress that will take place on the 20-22 June 2018 at Birchwood Hotel. The meeting deliberated on several key matters as follows:

1. Eskom matters

The NUM-YS is extremely angered by the attitude displayed by this "thumamina" board which has displayed arrogance and acted recklessly when parties started the first round of wage negotiations last week as they offered a 0% increase to workers and we deem this an insult to the working class. We call upon the very same person who appointed them as board members to intervene on this matter urgently and if he fails to do so we will know that he has sold out the workers to the highest bidder. We would like to warn these Eskom board charlatans to come back with an improved offer for workers and if not we will hit them where it matters most and we will cripple this country.

2. Signing of IPPs

The NUM-YS is disappointed on the first 100 days of comrade Cyril Ramaphosa in the president office as so many things happened under his watch that is against the working class. We raise the critical issue which is the signing IPPs that will lead to 40 000 jobs being lost in mining, energy, and construction. President Cyril Ramaphosa has clearly demonstrated that he has lost his trade union consciousness a long time ago, how can such things happen under his leadership?

3. Fatality in mines

The NUM-YS is worried about the increase in fatal injuries and safety conditions in mines which are our members are experiencing on a daily basis. Our member's goal is to work in these mines for their families not to go and die underground as it is currently happening. We call upon our branches to hold these companies accountable as we have seen that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) that we hoped will assist has dismally failed so we have no option but to fight for our survival.

4. Retrenchments

The NUM-YS is disgusted with recent news that AngloGold Ashanti will be retrenching another 2000 employees in the SA region and this is a company that has retrenched over 10 000 employees over the past year. This is a clear sign that AGA has no appetite of mining in the country and if that is the case we will demand that they bring back our mining license so that we can get another investor who is interested to mine. The NUM-YS has resolved that our mother body NEC must seek a political intervention on this matter as soon as possible.

We call upon all community-based organizations and youth alliance around Carletonville to join us in a protest march that will be directed to Mponeng mine within 2 weeks' time and we warn AGA to reverse their decision if not we will make that company ungovernable.

5. Fourth industrial revolution

The NUM-YS is calling for COSATU Young Workers Forum to urgently organize a job summit that will further have discussions on the impact of the fourth industrial revolution and how we empower young workers in different sectors. We call upon all youth formations to participate in this proposed Job summit as this will have a huge impact on our jobs as young people.

6. NUM Congress

The NUM-YS would like to wish our mother body a successful national congress that will take place on the 20-22 June 2018 at Birchwood hotel and we trust delegates will come up with strong resolutions that will better the union and bring back its glorious days.

For more information, please contact:

Bonginkosi Mrasi: NUM Youth Structure National Secretary: 064 758 0661/078 188 4300

Address:
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick,
Johannesburg 2001
Tel: 011 377 2111

Web: www.num.org.za
Twitter: @Num Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167

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