NUM, ANCYL call for halt in mining sector retrenchments

ANCYL and NUM members march against retrenchments.

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The National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM) has called for the Minerals Council South Africa to halt the implementation of retrenchments in the sector.

Young people from NUM and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) staged a job security demonstration outside the Minerals Council in Johannesburg.

Today, we stand unwavering with the National Union of Mineworkers on the picket lines, demanding justice and accountability. We will not tolerate the destruction of our workers’ livelihoods, and we will fight until their rights are fully realised.

📍 Minerals Council South… pic.twitter.com/6QDpytnHT7

— Thlologelo Collen Malatji (@Collen_Malatji3) January 24, 2025

More than 40% of the country’s youth are unemployed according to the quarterly labour force survey and NUM says Section 189 notices affect the poor in a low growth economy.

NUM’s Noel Phahlane says the lack of adherence to the social and labour commitments by mining companies is concerning.

“We are also here to call upon all the mining houses to adhere to their social and labour plans. The commitments they made when they were given the mining licenses. Now, this is a very concerning issue because most of the times when DMR is doing inspections, it comes to our attention that majority of these mining houses are not adhering to what they have promised them to hold their mind and that also talks to the development and skilling of employees and even if companies have intentions to retrench in the foreseeable future. They will then have to state that and then put measures in place that before we retrench, we should be up skilling and reskilling.”

Cde Sandra Maseko, Secretary-General of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) National Youth Structure and the ANC Youth League handed over a powerful memorandum to the CEO of the Minerals Council South Africa, Mr. Mzila Mthenjane, calling for urgent action on key issues… pic.twitter.com/MX0AU5TKfU

— Thlologelo Collen Malatji (@Collen_Malatji3) January 24, 2025