Amcu and NUM demand Ramaphosa intervene on their wage deadlock with Sibanye Stillwaters

Mineworkers demanding a R1 000 pay rise vowed to continue camping outside the Union Buildings until President Cyril Ramaphosa fulfils his “promises”.

The workers have been camping outside the Union Buildings since last Thursday.

On Monday, leaders of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), together with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), spoke out on the workers’ plight after a three months wage deadlock with Sibaye Stillwaters.

Last month, union members booed Ramaphosa off the stage at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg.

Ramaphosa then promised that minerals and resources minister Gwede Manthashe would intervene and address their grievances.

This, according to the mineworkers, did not happen.

NUM representative Phuthuma Mankabane said when the president addressed them in the stadium, the strike was already two months ongoing.

Ramaphosa promised to intervene but nothing has happened.

“This has had dire consequences on our finances,” Mankabane said.

“We have nothing, we have lost everything and that is why we are not going anywhere until we get the increase.

“The company has offered us an R800 increase plus a R50 living-out allowance. This is a huge insult to us,” he said.

The workers claimed that they were due an increment in July 2021.

“We were supposed to get an increase of R1 000 in July last year; then we get another R1 000 this year, plus another R1 000 promised for next year. We are fighting for the money that we were supposed to get last year.

“The other mining companies have given their employees increases without any struggle. Sibanye is a huge company but we are still struggling to get the money that is owed to us since last year. We are even ashamed of wearing any Sibanye merchandise because of the way they treat us.”

Amcu representative Thembelani Nhlahla echoed similar sentiments adding that Mantashe has failed them.

“We want Ramaphosa to speak to our employer as he promised. We have been on strike for almost four months now and we have not received anything.”

Nhlanhla said they were camping outside the Union Buildings for the plight of their families and children.

“Our children are hungry; they have been removed from schools and our wives are not getting anything. We have debts that have not been paid for four months.”

The workers have vowed to intensify the strike by among other means such as boycotting the ruling party in the next elections.

“We want the president to come to address us and tell us when are going to get our money. If he does not, we will not move here and we will not vote for the ANC.”

In a statement, Sibanye Stillwaters said the final settlement offer is for three years and will mean that:

– Category 4-8 employees will receive an increase of R850 in year 1, R850 in year 2 and R850 in year 3, which includes a R50 increase in the living out allowance each year.

– Miners, artisans and officials would receive an increase of 5% in years 1, 2 and 3.

“The offer amounts to a 7.8% increase to the basic wage in year one, 7.2% in year two and 6.8% in year three for entry-level category 4 employees.

“In rand terms, this offer would mean that over the next three years, the average monthly guaranteed income including the average bonus for category 4 underground production employees would increase by R1 045 each year from R17 512 to R20 648 by July 1, 2023.”

WATCH | Amcu and NUM demand Ramaphosa intervene on their wage deadlock with Sibanye Stillwaters pic.twitter.com/naP9aSV4Dw

— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) May 24, 2022

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