The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) wishes its militant Affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) a successful 18th National Elective Congress. Delegates including leaders from the Federation, Alliance partners, academia and key stakeholders in the mining, construction, energy and metal sectors will converge in Boksburg at the Birchwood Hotel from 24 to 26 June, under the theme: “The Epoch For The Dictatorship of The Proletariat Now Or Never.”  

NUM, a founding Affiliate of COSATU, has played an historic role not only in the Federation and liberation movement, but also in our transformation journey since the democratic breakthrough of 1994.  It is not an accident that this giant of the struggle has produced two Presidents of the Republic as well as three Secretaries-General of the African National Congress. 

The three-day event comes at a time when the sectors where the NUM organises are in desperate need of vigorous deliberations that will lead to tangible intervention, capable of inciting change. Yearly, the industries present turbulence in the form of massive job losses, inefficient state-owned entities, and untamed companies practicing questionable processes, resulting in damaging repercussions for workers.   

Last year the mining sector alone shed more than 13 000 jobs. It is infuriating to learn that the causes of retrenchments in this sector are often accompanied by companies failing to adhere to regulations governing retrenchments in the mining sector. The arrogance of executives of these businesses releasing workers from their positions to fill them with subcontractors under the pretext of cost cutting, reeks of greed and brazen exploitation of workers. The profits generated would not be exorbitant amounts if it was not for the toil of the workers. Yet they are shortchanged recklessly by licensees given the authority to operate.    

As the threat to job security is ever-present, so is the danger to life. Whilst the South African mining industry recorded 42 fatalities in 2024 marking the lowest-ever number of fatalities in the history of mining in the country, one fatality remains one too many.   

COSATU is confident that the engagements of the NUM’s National Congress will continue to resist unsafe working conditions, holding companies accountable, not only in the mining sector. Additional to health and safety standards, workers in these sectors deserve fair salaries negotiated in good faith.  

We wish the NUM productive deliberations and for the union to emerge victorious, as it always has.    

Issued by COSATU   

Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zanele@cosatu.org.za