About 200 hundred aggrieved workers affiliated with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) brought the Durban CBD to a standstill during their march to the Department of Minerals and Energy offices. | Lungani Zungu
Durban — Hundreds of coal miners from the leading anthracite coal mining company Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) picketed outside the Department of Minerals and Energy’s Durban offices on Wednesday as the long-running stalemate over wages continues.
About 200 aggrieved workers affiliated with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) brought the Durban CBD to a standstill during their march to the Department of Minerals and Energy offices.
They called on the department to intervene amid the impasse between them and ZAC, an underground coal mine owned by Menar and operated in Emakhalathini near Ulundi, north of KwaZulu-Natal.
Leading the charge, the NUM’s provincial secretary, Muzikayise Zakwe, told the Daily News that the wage crisis started when Covid-19 struck the country in 2020.
He alleged that the company sacked hundreds of employees during Covid-19, and when it rehired them, it stripped them of some benefits, including vital benefits such as the 13th cheque (bonuses).
“That is when we started clashing with the company because we were against what they were doing to our members. It was wrong, and they decided to fight. To this day, we are still fighting because the ZAC is bent on exploiting its workers,” said Zakwe.
He added: “We protested against this decision because we believed it was unfair to the workers. We are not going to allow the company to ill-treat the workers, and that is why we decided to approach the Department of Minerals and Energy for intervention.”
Zakwe said when they upped the ante, the company threatened striking workers with the section 189 retrenchment letters.
In the letter of demands, seen by the Daily News, the workers called for the Department of Minerals and Energy to probe the “behaviour” of ZAC.
“We call on the department to intervene in ensuring that the company negotiates in good faith and that it has a commitment to the uplifting of the conditions of workers and in the betterment of the livelihood of the South African workers,” read the letter.
“We further call on the department to stop the retrenchments, and should they proceed with these retrenchments, the DRME (Department of Minerals and Energy) must withdraw its mining rights from ZAC,” further stated the letter received by Ntsudeni Revhgani from the department.
A fuming employee Thami Ngcobo said: “We are tired of this company taking us for granted. We will fight to the to the bitter end. Enough is enough.”
The company was approached for comment on Wednesday morning but had not responded by the time of going to print.
However, in a statement dated September 5, ZAC said: “Workers affiliated with NUM initiated a strike on 22 August 2024.
“Negotiators tabled several demands on behalf of its members, including unaffordable salary increases and the payment of a guaranteed annual 13th cheque without commitment to improve productivity.”
It added: “In response, ZAC management offered to pay workers a 13th cheque based on the fulfilment of production targets to keep the mine operational.”
The company said the demands were “unfair” arguing that it was facing challenges due to low production levels, high operational costs, and unfavourable market conditions such as declining anthracite prices.
“To ensure business sustainability and given the mine’s low production levels, it is not possible to accommodate all workers’ demands unreservedly. The proposed solution of a production target-based 13th cheque could provide an opportunity for operations to continue as an interim solution to achieve economically viable mining.
The company further stated that it had noted “with grave concern” that since the strike started, there have been allegedly violent incidents “with buses transporting employees being shot at and electricity pylons being vandalised in the area.”
“The company is of the view that, with sound leadership from NUM, negotiations can be concluded amicably.
“Continued strike action exacerbates the operational difficulty and adversely impacts potential strategic decisions to continue production despite the adverse impacts already experienced and alluded to.
“ZAC is committed to continuing this positive trajectory and would like to continue to engage in constructive discussions with employees and union representatives to reach a win-win solution.”
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