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Mine workers stand underground at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine, south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The National Union of Mineworkers (Num) has called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to tighten regulations governing retrenchments in the mining sector.
The call follows recent retrenchment notices issued by several mining companies.
In 2024, the mining sector shed more than 13 000 jobs, sparking alarm from organized labour.
On Friday, Num members marched to the department’s offices in Polokwane, Limpopo, demanding immediate intervention.
Num regional chairperson Rangers Molepo stressed that companies neglecting their operations should face license revocation.
“We have realised that mining companies retrench workers willingly and we are here to march against that to the DMR regulator because they are the one issuing licenses. They should be the ones to revoke licenses where mining companies are not doing well. We have companies that have closed, now they are under care and maintenance.”
VIDEO | Govt urged to strengthen regulations on retrenchment processes
