By Thys Khiba
Orkney – The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in the North West province called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMR) and Department of Labour to intervene and stop China Africa Precious Metals Company (CAPM) from retrenching at least 200 mineworkers out of 301 mineworkers.
The YCLSA called on the DMR to prioritise the state owned mining company, the African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation when granting mining rights, saying that the precious minerals of South Africa can be used to create employment, contribute to the national fiscus and expand beneficiation industries in the country.
“This is an act of betrayal not only to mine workers but to the local Community as whole in particular the people of Orkney and the province. The company promised to create more employment opportunities for the community when they took over Shaft number 7 from Aurora,” said YCLSA Provincial Secretary Tsietsi Letsebe.
The YCLSA confirmed that they supporting the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Matlosana region on the rejection of the execution of section 189 of the LRA process issued by CAPM Company to retrench at least 200 of their workers.
“It is sad that these attempts to retrench workers comes at theperiod the country is mourning the bloodbath that happened in Marikana where mining was the centre cause of such tragedy in August 2012. In honour of all those died in Marikana, themining industry as well as the government should see to it that improves the livelihood of all mineworkers and the communities affected,” said Letsebe.
The YCLSA said they are not surprised by the call for retrenchment of mineworkers because to them capital is primarily preoccupied with profit maximisation and accumulation at all cost regardless of who then becomes causality.
“Thus this attempt to retrench workers is nothing new at all but an old bourgeoisie tactic. Matlosana area used to be a hive of mining activity but slowly the place is becoming slaughter house as material conditions are worsening against the working class poor,” said Letsebe.
Talking to Free State Central News, Letsebe said that the YCLSA in the province wants assure mineworkers that they support their struggle and are in full solidarity with NUM Matlosana region in rejecting the enforcement of section 189 of the LRA.
At the time of publishing this article, Free State Central News couldn’t get a view of the CAPM management.
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