Mine owners are the real Zama Zamas - ANCYL President

He addressed a picket outside the mineral council offices in Rosebank, Johannesburg today.

The picket follows ArcelorMittal's announcement of the closure of its steel operations, including plants in Newcastle and Vereeniging, as well as its rail and structures division. 

The closures are expected to result in the loss of 3,500 jobs.  

The ANCYL is calling on the private sector to play its part in reducing unemployment in the country.

The aim of the demonstration was to highlight the struggles of workers and youth affected by what it calls corporate greed and policy failures.  

Malatji alleged that some shareholders avoid paying taxes while hiring foreign nationals, particularly from Lesotho, to operate in illegal mines.  

“We are saying we suspect that some of the mine owners who used to own these mines have not left there. They are the real Zama Zamas.

“The reason that they have left it like that is because they don't want to pay tax. 

“They don't want to pay employees their minimum wage or their wages. They don't want to take responsibility for South Africa.

“They pretend that the mine is closed down, is finished. Then tomorrow they employ illegal foreigners, they call them Zama Zamas, to go and mine there. 

“The real Zama Zamas are shareholders and owners of mines in South Africa,” Malatji said. 

He added, “Those are the real Zama Zamas. Now we are fighting poor young people who are taken by force from Lesotho and Mozambique, brought here to be exploited,” 

Malatji urged the Mineral Council to act on the real Zama Zamas.

"The Mineral Council must make sure that tomorrow there is no school that is not open, there is no learner who can access education. We don't care what they say about us. We are going to go everywhere, every corner, protest and fight until we end up in the Union Building.

Until all the issues of the youth in this country are addressed,” he said. 

Mineral Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane made a commitment to respond to the ANCYL demands in 14 days. 

This comes as South Africa continues to grapple with illegal mining, with communities like Stilfontein in the North West bearing the brunt of criminal syndicates.  

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, meanwhile released data this week which shows that the mining sector remains a key contributor to the economy.

He has however highlighted challenges such as declining production, job losses, and illegal mining activity.  

The Youth League said these issues point to corporate greed and policy failures in the industry. 

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