The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) strongly condemns the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) at both Optimum Coal and Koornfontein mines for failing to pay the employees salaries last night after repeated promises.

In meetings held between the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) and the NUM, BRP committed himself to pay the workers by the end of the month.

It is yet another false promise. The BRP had meetings with both the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and Parliament Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and promised that workers will be paid.

The NUM feels that the BRP was being economical with the truth. We cannot allow this situation to continue as it is at the moment. The NUM calls on the BRP to sell the operations as there are interested investors to buy them.

The NUM calls on the BRP to fulfill fully the promises he made and make sure that all the employees are paid their salaries.

For more information, please contact:

Nelson Ratshoshi: NUM Highveld Chairperson: 076 391 2245/083 977 9446
Tshilidzi Mathavha: NUM Highveld Regional Secretary: 066 305 7424

The National Union of Mineworkers

7 Rissik Street
Cnr Frederick
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111
Cell: 083 809 3257