Photo Credit: Lunga Mzangwe
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) say they are dismayed by the cruel stance adopted by Lanaxess Chrome Mine (LCM) management against workers who exercise their right to join a union of their choice.
The union says their members have been subjected to attacks and harassment.
In a statement NUMSA said that they have been trumped-up charges and a clear which-hunt against their members including dismissals of approximately 56 workers since May 2018 to date.
The major German shareholders in this mine have a clear, glaring strategy which is to employ black man and woman to execute this vicious and inhumane agenda against workers, the statement reads.
NUMSA workers have since decided to embark in a sit-in strike underground from last week.
NUMSA General Secretary Irvin says Jim it is a propaganda to say their members are in control of the mine.
Jim say they succeeded as a union on Friday to organize food and water for their members underground and they also succeeded to make sure the food get to their members.
Jim indicated that it was a struggle to get food to their members underground on Saturday.
Jim added that their priority is the lives of workers who are underground and to make sure that they get basic necessities such as food and water.
Jim says they have been experiencing situations where some of the people have been collapsing and being rushed to hospitals.
Jim added that the issues they are pushing for, are directly mandated from members of NUMSA.
