NUM disappointed by suspension of Mining Charter

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said last week that it was ‘shocked’ and ‘disappointed’ by the temporary suspension of the controversial Mining Charter pending the outcome of the Chamber of Mine’s urgent interdict, saying that it would be exploring legal possibilities in a bid to challenge it. ‘The (NUM) has noted with shock the recently reported agreement between the Chamber of Mines and the Department of Mineral Resources in court papers filled in the High Court, which “delays” the implementation or enforceability of the recently gazetted Mining Charter till the September 2017 court date,’ the union is quoted in an IoL report as saying. ‘We are extremely disappointed with the Minister of Mineral Resources who seem to buckled under pressure in court and conceded in the suspension of the mining charter and thus delayed the meaningful inclusion of employees and communities in this exploitative industry. We expected no less from the Chamber of Mines, whom we feel their actions have attacked every essence of transformation in the mining industry.’ The report says the charter has been rejected by the industry with the CoM saying that the Department of Mineral Resources had not had meaningful consultations before the introduction of some of the items, and thus it would approach the courts to stop the department from implementing it.