Thousands of Eastern Cape families will be hit hard by retrenchments planned by mining companies as mineral prices continue to drop. The province is considered the biggest provider of migrant workers, with many dependent on the mines for their daily survival.
The National Mineworkers’ Union (NUM) say retrenchments could affect more than 60 000 people in the province, while UDM say government should have done something to save the jobs.
The ANC has called for the mining companies to review their plans.
Last week it was announced that Lonmin and Anglo American were planning to slash a combined 12 000 jobs as the commodity prices slumped to lower levels.
The NUM said Lonmin planned to shut several mine shafts, putting 6 000 jobs at risk. Anglo American is also expected to cut 54 000 jobs worldwide, with 6 000 of those jobs in the country.
NUM chief negotiator at Lonmin Eric Gcilitshana said thousands of people would be left destitute in the Eastern Cape.
“The Eastern Cape will be the hardest hit by this. We know that one employee supports up to 10 people and most of those mineworkers are coming from this province. We are worried but we are doing our best to find alternative ways to avoid these retrenchments,” said Gcilitshana.
He said Lonmin called for 2 000 workers to take voluntary packages recently but only 1 300 were approved as some of them had skills that were still needed by the mine.
“This shows that the company is shedding jobs. They are blaming the 2014 five-month strike as one of the reasons for this but we are calling for the reasons behind these retrenchments to be investigated.”
UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa said he was worried about how this was going to affect poor people in the province. He said if government was serious about the poor, they would do more to save jobs, like offering bailouts.
“Government should have intervened a long time ago and now the situation is very bleak ... I sometimes question the thinking of our democratic government.”
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said it would add a further burden on the Eastern Cape government’s poverty alleviation programme.
“As a province we join all voices that are pleading with mining bosses to appreciate and understand that human beings are important than profits,” he said.
During its lekgotla held in Pretoria this past week, the ANC called on mining companies that have already announced possible retrenchments to review their plans.
According to the South African Chamber of Mines, Eastern Cape has more than 55 000 miners working in different mines across the country.
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa national general secretary Xolile Ndevu said South Africa was already faced with a high number of unemployed people. He said many dependents of workers will also be affected and this would see children dropping out of school.
Ndevu was part of a delegation of traditional leaders who travelled to Marikana during the 2012 strike when 44 people were killed.
Looming mine job cuts threaten thousands of EC families
The National Mineworkers’ Union (NUM) say retrenchments could affect more than 60 000 people in the province, while UDM say government should have done something to save the jobs.
The ANC has called for the mining companies to review their plans.
Last week it was announced that Lonmin and Anglo American were planning to slash a combined 12 000 jobs as the commodity prices slumped to lower levels.
The NUM said Lonmin planned to shut several mine shafts, putting 6 000 jobs at risk. Anglo American is also expected to cut 54 000 jobs worldwide, with 6 000 of those jobs in the country.
NUM chief negotiator at Lonmin Eric Gcilitshana said thousands of people would be left destitute in the Eastern Cape.
“The Eastern Cape will be the hardest hit by this. We know that one employee supports up to 10 people and most of those mineworkers are coming from this province. We are worried but we are doing our best to find alternative ways to avoid these retrenchments,” said Gcilitshana.
He said Lonmin called for 2 000 workers to take voluntary packages recently but only 1 300 were approved as some of them had skills that were still needed by the mine.
“This shows that the company is shedding jobs. They are blaming the 2014 five-month strike as one of the reasons for this but we are calling for the reasons behind these retrenchments to be investigated.”
UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa said he was worried about how this was going to affect poor people in the province. He said if government was serious about the poor, they would do more to save jobs, like offering bailouts.
“Government should have intervened a long time ago and now the situation is very bleak ... I sometimes question the thinking of our democratic government.”
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said it would add a further burden on the Eastern Cape government’s poverty alleviation programme.
“As a province we join all voices that are pleading with mining bosses to appreciate and understand that human beings are important than profits,” he said.
During its lekgotla held in Pretoria this past week, the ANC called on mining companies that have already announced possible retrenchments to review their plans.
According to the South African Chamber of Mines, Eastern Cape has more than 55 000 miners working in different mines across the country.
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa national general secretary Xolile Ndevu said South Africa was already faced with a high number of unemployed people. He said many dependents of workers will also be affected and this would see children dropping out of school.
Ndevu was part of a delegation of traditional leaders who travelled to Marikana during the 2012 strike when 44 people were killed.
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