NUM must defend itself: leaders
"NUM members cannot run for ever. We have to defend ourselves," general secretary Frans Baleni told reporters in Johannesburg.
He said three of its members had been attacked at Impala Platinum's number six shaft in Rustenburg for rejoining the NUM.
NUM lost its majority status at platinum mines to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union during a wildcat strike in the platinum belt in 2012.
Union president Thamsanqa Matosa said NUM members had a right to protect themselves and their property.
"We have been on the run for a long time. It is time to defend ourselves."
Baleni said stability in the mining sector could be attained by implementing the mining stability framework.
Workers in the North West platinum belt were being attacked for belonging to the NUM.
"In informal settlements, people demand payslips to see which union you belong to. If you belong to NUM, you are attacked."
He said workers had joined union Uasa "as a temporarily safe base" before rejoining the NUM.
Baleni said the NUM had regained about 3000 members at Anglo American Platinum's operation in Rustenburg. At Impala Platinum most of the workers chose not to belong to any union.
"We have also seen movement at Lonmin, where intimidation is rife. About 500 members have returned to NUM at various shafts of Lonmin," he said.
Baleni said the NUM's central executive committee had resolved the union needed to undertake campaigns against both the state and capital to advance the interests of its members in the mining, construction, and energy sectors.
These included the minimum wage, which he said should be evaluated per sector.
'We are not giving out a blanket figure. Each sector, for example domestic workers or mining, must be properly evaluated and a minimum wage introduced."
He said the union welcomed the minimum wage legislation passed in Germany.
"It translates to R24,000 monthly in South African currency."
Other programmes of action were the demand for a living wage, the right to strike at Eskom, the removal of Eskom's board, and a demand for transformation at Sibanye Gold.
He claimed Sibanye Gold unilaterally reversed the transformation the company had earlier achieved.
"We will be engaged in protest marches to push for our demands."
Baleni said the NUM would mobilise against the government's nuclear power initiatives as it was concerned about the risks of using this kind of power.
"There is no need for nuclear power. Will the SA economy be able to clean the mess should there be a nuclear disaster?" he asked, referring to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011.
