NUM Highveld region calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently intervene and address the Transnet’s coal transportation crisis that threaten thousands of jobs
27 September 2023
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Highveld Region is calling for an urgent intervention by State President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the Transnet’s inability to efficiently transport coal which threatens over 35,000 livelihoods within the coal sector.
Transnet’s operations are a crucial cog in the country’s economy. They are responsible for moving most of the iron ore and coal that is produced in the country and then taken around the world.
In the face of this impending crisis, the NUM Highveld Region is pleading with the President to intervene. The situation is very dire. The reduction in coal production due to the unavailability of trains to transport it to Richard's Bay Coal Terminal jeopardises thousands of quality jobs. The urgency of this matter could be measured by the recent notification of section 189 retrenchments served to the NUM by Glencore.
Volumes transported on Transnet networks have declined by nearly a third over the past five years because of issues that include poor management and idle locomotives, cable theft and ageing tracks. Most coal miners have no choice but to use trucks to cash in on the record demand. The rail operations continue to be unreliable for the mining sector, causing harm to the economy.