NUM puts pressure on Lily Mine

91

A meeting between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and leadersof its alliance partners in the Mpumalanga province has resulted in theANC provincial leadership agreeing that they will write a letter to theMinister of the Department of Mineral Resources.

In the letter, provincial secretary Mandla Ndlovu will ask minister Mosebenzi Zwaneto “come down” and meet NUM concerning the situation at Lily Mine,the union’s deputy president said on Thursday.

“Yesterday [Tuesday] the provincial secretary [Mandla Ndlovu] of theANC agreed that he would write a letter to the minister for us to meetthe minister so that we put our demands before him that in two weeks’time we work out a program in ensuring those people are rescued,”Montisetsi said.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is arecognised union at Lily Mine. Its national spokesman Zungu didn’tanswer text messages sent by 013NEWS three days ago, to his phone,concerning the situation at Lily Mine.

Montisetsi said although Num is a minority union at the mine, theywould fight for the rescue of Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Mabuza and SolomonNyendere.

“We are fighting for the rescue of the African people. We cannot allowa situation where our own people are left trapped underground,” hesaid.

He said after the meeting with leaders of the ANC and its alliancepartners in Mbombela on Tuesday he received a call from Vantage GoldFields owners and was going to meet them “to hear what they say onFriday morning this week concerning the situation at Lily Mine.

 

(edited by ZK)