NUM National Organisers Forum goes for total onslaught

Now or Never

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) held a two-day National Organisers Forum from Thursday to Friday. This is an influential structure comprising of its organisers and Regional Managers from across the country and in all national provinces of South Africa.

The Forum was opened by the Acting President of NUM Piet Matosa and was also addressed by Solly Mapaila the Second Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party yesterday. 

Today the Forum was addressed by Frans Baleni the General Secretary of NUM and Bheki Ntshalintshali the Deputy General Secretary of Cosatu.

Defending Cosatu is Defending NUM and vice versa 

The Organisers have committed themselves that there will be no time for clock-watching as they will service members every day to retain them within the organisation. The organisers have also vowed to defend NUM across the sectors against employers. They have also vowed to defend Cosatu by explaining to members in clear and no uncertain terms about what is really happening in Cosatu. This covers the expulsion of the General Secretary of Cosatu and Numsa. The organisers have identified Rustenburg as the weakest link to NUM and an area targeted by Vavi apologists.

Platinum workers weary of despotic self-imposed President 

The Forum also acknowledged the fact that a number of workers in the platinum belt who joined AMCU wanted to leave if conditions stabilised because there is no accountability or democracy in the union. They are also angry ‘that AMCU President was self-imposed, despotic, and, therefore, permanent. The Forum vowed to help such members to re-join NUM and will leave no stone unturned in this regard including further educating them about accountability, the importance of democracy in unions and knowledge which must be used to democratise the working environment in companies. 

NUM threatens motion of no confidence against DMR Minister 

The Forum has raised its concern over the decision by DMR to go for a declaratory order by the High Court in the interpretation of the Mining Charter. The Forum has urged the leadership of NUM to call on the Minister to protect ESOPs using his discretion to reject the notion of once-empowered-always empowered.

It views resolution to go for cosy declaratory order as a sell-out move contradicting the ANC resolution to build a developmental state that is decisive. Should the outcome of the declaratory order process affects the ESOPs adversely the Forum warns that NUM should declare a motion of no confidence in the Minister and mobilise members and society for his removal. 

"The role of the Minister of DMR is to understand that the process of transformation is not a dove-lovey affair and that the legal system in South Africa is adversarial and once mining capital becomes excited to march with the Minister to pursue a declaratory order we should know that it spells doom to a good course" Eddie Majadibodu who is the convenor of the National Forum and Head of Production Pillar in NUM. 

Organisers must venerate the truth 

The SACP Second Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila urged the organisers of NUM ‘to venerate the truth and the working class as they serve members and in defence of NUM '. While Piet Matosa , the President of NUM ‘urged members to exercise high discipline now that they were aware of what is happening and have satisfied themselves and called on the leaders and members not to abuse resources of the union for ulterior motives including communicating or attending illegal activities intended to weaken the Federation'

Mining Framework Agreement 

The Forum also raised concerns that employers and NUM rivals were not respecting the Framework Agreement signed by mining industry stakeholders. Thus, a call on the leadership of NUM to withdraw from the process.The leadership is yet to make a decision on the matter in the forthcoming NEC.

The meeting ends today.

Statement issued by Eddie Majadibodu, National Convenor of Organisers Forum, NUM, April 10 2015

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