Thousands of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members are expected to embark on a massive protest march to the ANC’s headquarters – Luthuli House in Johannesburg to submit a memorandum of concerns and grievances with regard to the developments taking place at Eskom. The march will also highlight discomfort with regard to the non-interventions by the ANC on the ongoing job losses in the mining and the construction sectors.
This decision comes after the recent NUM National Executive Committee meeting where resolutions were taken to stand firm against any employer who is arrogant and deliberately destroying jobs in all sectors of the country’s economy.
The march is about the NUM members. This is at the backdrop of the ANC’s decision to unbundle Eskom and opening up Eskom to be milked of millions of rands through the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). We unequivocally reiterate our position that the unbundling of the power utility is not an end by itself, but it is a strategy to privatize Eskom. We demand an honest and open engagement with the government and the Eskom board.
We also demand that the ANC officials must intervene in the ongoing debacle in relation to the selling of Koornfontein and Optimum Collieries in Mpumalanga. The NUM is highly worried that the process of selling both operations has taken excessive period irrespective of the fact that there were always potential buyers. The NUM has since urged the business rescue practitioners dealing with these operations to do justice and expedite and conclude the sale transactions of these two operations because our members are highly affected by the delays.
All workers employed in the mining, construction and energy sector are urged to join and participate in the march planned as follows:
Date: 20 March 2020
Gathering Point: Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg and proceed to ANC Headquarters (Luthuli House)
Time: 10 am
For more information, please contact:
Makgabo William Mabapa, NUM Deputy General Secretary, 082 880 4439
Livhuwani Mammburuu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255