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Mail & Guardian
national union of metalworkers of south africa numsalatest news & developments
The general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), Irvin Jim, was candid in claiming that he did not view the MK Party as a socialist-oriented party.
BILL OF RIGHTS

The Left that is not left at all

The general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), Irvin Jim, was candid in claiming that he did not view the MK Party as a socialist-oriented…

  • Jo-Mangaliso Mdhlela
5 min read
ActionSA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the uMkhonto weSizwe party (MKP) joined the group March on March in a march through central Durban on 26 March 2026. Photo: Action SA
ABAHLALI BASEMJONDOLO

The left must eschew xenophobia

Xenophobia offers a simple but misleading explanation for a complex crisis. It reframes mass unemployment, failing public services and weak governance as a question of belonging

  • Imraan Buccus
5 min read
Employees of vehicle manufacturer First Automobile Works, members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and casual workers on strike in Gqeberha. (Photograph by Sibongile Portia Jonas)
AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION

Eastern Cape’s First Automobile Works factory goes back on its word

Workers on strike for a ninth week at a vehicle manufacturer in Gqeberha have accused the company of flip-flopping during negotiations for better wages and medical aid…

  • Sibongile Portia Jonas
4 min read
Mineworkers who have been newly recruited to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa attend a meeting at Impala Platinum’s shaft 9 in Rustenburg, North West. (Photographs by Magnificent Mndebele)
AMCU

The deadly cost of union membership in North West

The platinum belt is roiling with tension once more after the assassination of Numsa organiser Malibongwe Mdazo.

  • Magnificent Mndebele
7 min read
ARCELOR MITTAL

ArcelorMittal is ‘slowly becoming a burial site’

After the deaths of three employees who got trapped in a control room, workers allege that management frequently coerces them to bypass health and safety procedures

  • Magnificent Mndebele
8 min read
Hope: The plan to cut jobs was made in June. Now, with increased demand for steel, the company will restart a blast furnace in January. Unions argue that this will reduce job cuts. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images
ARCELORMITTAL SOUTH AFRICA

ArcelorMittal plans to retrench 2 500 workers

Africa’s largest steel producer announced in June it would begin the section 189 process after its initial cost-cutting measures were inadequate to insulate it from a weak…

  • Thando Maeko
3 min read
The financially embattled SAA pulled a no-show on Tuesday, failing to attend a meeting with parliament’s standing committee of public accounts. (Delwyn Verasamy)
BRITISH AIRWAYS

New airline may rise from ashes

Unions and business rescue practitioners have until Friday afternoon to agree on a settlement and start the process of shutting the airline down

  • Sabelo Skiti
  • Thando Maeko
5 min read
As SAA subsidiaries declare hardship to staff, business-rescue practitioners urge them to sign agreements to save severance payouts. (John McCann/M&G)
AIR CHEFS

SAA rescuers give affected parties two options: Wind down or liquidate

As SAA subsidiaries declare hardship to staff, business-rescue practitioners urge them to sign agreements to save severance payouts

  • Sabelo Skiti
7 min read