COSATU statement on Malema's attack on the NUM

The Congress of South African Trade Unions strongly condemns the outrageous attack by Julius Malema on the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

The former ANC Youth league leader is reported to have called on the striking mineworkers gathered at Wonderkop at the weekend to "form a militant union that would represent their interests".

He claimed that NUM "was no longer a union that represented the interests of the workers but interested in making more money. NUM is not a union, it's a company. They hold shares in mining companies, that is why when there are problems in the mines they are the first to sell out the workers."

This is a scandalous insult to the mighty union of JB Marks, Moses Kotane, Leslie Massina, Elijah Barayi, JB Marks, Sam Ntambane and Selby Mayise, which for decades has been fearless and unflinching in its defence of the most exploited section of the South African working class.

As a result it has become and remains COSATU's biggest affiliate, with over 300 000 members, and will continue to defend and improve the lives of mineworkers and play a leading role in the federation for years to come.

It was through the NUM that miners managed to regain their dignity as workers and are today regarded as human beings.

Malema's attack is not only directed at the NUM but to COSATU and its entire trade union family. We appeal to workers to listen to its true leaders and refuse to be dictated to by self-appointed leaders like Malema.

The federation deplores Malema's blatant opportunism in seeking to exploit the understandable concerns of the Marikana workers to score cheap political points, and to discredit those who are struggling to resolve the very difficult situation pertaining in the area.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, August 20 2012

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