The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Saturday voiced “concerns” about not being invited to the launch of state owned mining company African Mining Exploration and Finance Company (AEMFC).
“The NUM is seriously concerned that as an organisation that represents the majority of mineworkers in South Africa, thus a serious stakeholder, has neither been invited nor notified,” spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.
Seshoka warned the Department of Mineral Resources to be careful in the manner it conducts itself “more especially in marginalising those who are at the coalface of wealth generation in favour of the bourgeoisie”.
“The NUM wonders whether that mining company is going to be operated by goats or donkeys. As a union, we strongly believe that nothing about us — without us — will ever succeed,” he said.
“Whilst we appreciate and welcome heartily the launch of the state mining company, we strongly condemn efforts by the department to marginalise labour in the process in favour of business.”
Zuma launched the AEMFC, a subsidiary of the Central Energy Fund, as the nucleus of the state-owned mining company in Ogies, Mpumalanga, earlier on Saturday.
“The ultimate goal would be to consolidate all state mining interests in one vehicle,” he said at its launch and sod-turning ceremony.
The AEMFC’s current portfolio included coal, uranium, and limestone, which constituted strategic mineral resources.
He said the role of the state could not merely be confined to that of a regulator, and the state must actively participate in the mining industry to ensure that national interests were protected and advanced.
“As you would be aware, our policy is to build a strong mixed economy, where the state, private sector, cooperative and other forms of social ownership complement each other, to achieve shared and inclusive economic growth.”
Zuma said the government’s policy on minerals and mining did not make provision for the nationalisation of mining assets, but it did not prevent the state from participating actively in mining and competing with other companies. – Sapa