NUM warns the Department of Mineral Resources over state mining company

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) notes media reports that a state mining company will be formally established today in Ogies. The NUM is however seriously concerned that as an organization that represents the majority of mineworkers in South Africa, thus a serious stakeholder has neither been invited nor notifed. The NUM warns the Department of Mineral Resources to be careful in the manner it conducts itself more especially in marginalizing those who are at the coalface of wealth generation in favour of the bourgeoisie.

These are more notable in this instance as well as in other instances which includes leading the bourgeoisie organization of the mining indaba. The NUM wonders whether that mining company is going to be operated by goats or donkeys. As a union, we strongly believe that nothing about us without us will ever succeed. Whilst we appreciate and welcome heartily the launch of the state mining company, we strongly condemn efforts by the department to marginalize labour in the process in favour of business.

The National Union of Mineworkers has been at the forefront of the fight for the establishment of a state mining company and therefore views these shunning of the working class in a very serious light. The NUM will engage the Department in these matters so that we come to understand whether it is a deliberate declaration of war or pure ignorance of protocol.

Statement issued by NUM, February 26 2011

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