The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), its militant Affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and sister unions will picket outside the premises of Kopanong Gold mine in Klerksdorp, North West on Wednesday, 13 May.

At the same time, leaders of the Federation, NUM and sister unions along with Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, and Deputy Minister, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, will meet with management to discuss the dehumanising search procedure women workers at the company are subjected to daily.

News that women workers at the mine are forced to spread their legs while security guards search their private parts for stolen gold sent shockwaves through society.

COSATU General Secretary, Solly Phetoe, will lead the delegation along with Minister Chikunga and Deputy Minister Letsike to first meet with the Regional and Branch leadership of NUM for a briefing, before proceeding to meet with management of Kopanong Gold. The focus of the meeting is to ensure that this demeaning practice is eliminated once and for all.

COSATU has also extended an invitation to the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, and the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth.

Details of the picket and meeting are as follows:

Location: Kopanang Gold Mine, Vaal Reefs Mine, Klerksdorp

Date:   Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Time:   12pm

Issued by COSATU 

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zanele@cosatu.org.za