“Our Jobs, Our Lives, Our Land”
CCN Reporting
Aggeneys:- Hundreds of angry, but determined mineworkers took to the dusty roads of Aggeneys today, marching under the banner of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
The workers demanding dignity, job security, and an end to what they call “corporate greed in disguise.”
The protest, held outside Black Mountain Mine, is in direct response to Vedanta Zinc International’s (VZI) outsourcing model, which the union says will lead to mass retrenchments and a loss of hard-earned benefits.
“They want to break us down and replace us with outsourced labour while they count profits overseas,” said Piet Links, a 52-year-old underground operator who has worked at the mine for over two decades. “But we are the backbone of this land, they cannot erase us.”
NUM: Outsourcing is Economic Sabotage
In a strongly worded statement, NUM’s Western Cape leadership labelled the company’s actions as “economic sabotage, social vandalism, and modern-day corporate colonialism.”
They accuse VZI and its billionaire chairman, Anil Agarwal, of prioritizing profit over people and ignoring the devastating impact on families and communities in Namaqualand, many of whom have depended on the mine for generations.
NUM also warned that what’s happening in Aggeneys, is a blueprint for other mining towns, making this not just a regional protest, but a national issue.
“If we don’t stop them here, the same model will be forced on workers in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and beyond,” said NUM Regional Chairperson, Isaac Ntshangase.
“This is about all South African workers.”
Workers Already Losing Benefits
According to NUM, many workers have already lost a 5% stake in the mine through the Employee Profit Sharing Scheme and could lose more if retrenched.
“We built this mine, now they want to toss us away like we’re nothing,” said Anna-Marie October, a single mother whose husband died underground. “We’re not just numbers in a boardroom, we’re human beings.”
The Message is Clear: Respect or Resistance
NUM says today’s protest is just the beginning if VZI refuses to listen.
The union is demanding:
An immediate halt to outsourcing
Job protection for all permanent staff
Restoration of benefits and equity lost.
Community members, local churches, and even retired miners joined the peaceful protest, many holding handmade signs reading “Hands off our jobs!” and “Namaqualand is not for sale!”
As the sun rose over the rugged mountains of the Northern Cape, one thing became clear: the people of Aggeneys may be far from the spotlight, but they are not voiceless.
NUM has called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to urgently intervene and ensure mining companies respect local labour rights.
For media inquiries or interviews, contact:
📞 NUM Western Cape Media Liaison – 076 555 4468
📧 info@num.org.za
