The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will be embarking on a protest march this coming weekend as part of a rolling programme of mass action directed at Sibanye Stillwater and Harmony to seriously prioritise and consider wellbeing and the plight of workers. The NUM remained resolute that one death is one too many. NUM members and the broader members of society at large would join the march and submit memorandum in demand of the following:

1. The end of mining fatalities in various mining operations
2. The companies should create a safe working environment for employees
3. The protection of Health & Safety Act
4. Unlocking of food ban for mineworkers working underground
5. And that the companies must stop closing mines and retrenching willy-nilly workers

It is quite disturbing that the poor mineworkers who are earning peanuts, continue to die like flies in the industry that careless about their sweat and blood. Translating the current 49 mining fatalities, that means 49 breadwinners have perished in line of duty.

We continue to lose mineworkers annually due to mine accidents, and some of such fatalities happen because of lack of proper safety management and commitment to zero tolerance. Employers must stop sacrificing workers and making them scapegoats for the accidents through enquiries aimed at blaming the workers.

The details of the protest march are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 11 November 2023
Venue: Carletonville
Time of Arrival: 9 am
Assembly point: Carletonville Old Taxi Rank – Workers will march to and submit memorandum at Carletonville Civic Centre
Sibanye Stillwater and Harmony executive management are expected to receive and sign the memorandum.

For more information, please contact:

Masibulele Naki, NUM National Health and Safety Secretary, 
073 333 774 or 066 475 2220
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 325