The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) welcomes today’s decision by the Portfolio Committee on Labour to reject the Democratic Alliance (DA)  private member bill to amend the Labour Relations Act. This Bill, sponsored by Ian Ollis of the DA, wants to impose on unions a responsibility to own up should violence, destruction of property and intimidation occur during a protected strike.

Despite the advice from the Parliamentary State Law advisers, the DA arrogantly pursued the approval of this Bill in their quest to protect Capital while undermining workers’ constitutional rights by overburdening workers with what is supposed to be the task of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and or the security apparatus.

“What they were saying is that unions, should, on top of their own work, take on Police work, detect and detain criminals whom might find industrial actions and strikes as a convenient opportunity to commit crimes. Any violence towards innocent bystanders, any destruction to property and any intimidation or threats to those that want to work is a criminal offence. Police should do their job in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice. It is the role of the Police to prevent and or react to criminal activities," said Sibusiso Mimi,  Acting NUM Parliamentary Head.

As the NUM, we support peaceful industrial action and always urge our members to uphold the rule of law when they are on strike. We must remind the DA that the NUM embarked on an 11-week strike in the 2013-2014 season at Northam Platinum in Limpopo, not even a fly was hurt.  There were no reports of intimidation and damage to property. The arrogant DA ignores this fact and tries to cheat Parliament into stereotyping violence and limit it to workers while it is a societal problem that needs a resolute government to uproot it. Crime in general needs a holistic program that seeks to address the apartheid legacy – the three chief enemies of the working class in South Africa – inequality, poverty, and unemployment.

 

Issued by NUM