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ANC President to the National Union of Mineworkers ANC, 30 May 2009 Address delivered by the President of the African National Congress (ANC), Comrade Jacob Zuma, at the National Union Of Mineworkers (NUM) gala dinner, Gallagher Estate, Midrand, 30 May 2009. President of NUM, Comrade Senzeni Zokwana, General Secretary of NUM, Comrade Frans Baleni, Office bearers of the NUM, Leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Members of the NUM, Comrades and friends, I greet you all, in the name of our glorious liberation movement, the African National Congress. The ANC speaks here today, not so much as a guest invited to address a external organisation. Rather we are interacting with one of our own. For it is a matter of record that for much of its history, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been an integral part of the struggle of the African people against oppression and exploitation in South Africa. Leaders of the mineworkers were also leaders of the ANC, among them J.B. Marks and many others. The Alliance that exists between the working class movement and the national liberation movement, the ANC, exists for a reason and has been forged through struggle. Comrades, on April 22nd we concluded a long and arduous but very exciting election campaign. The results are out there for all and sundry to see. The overwhelming majority of South Africans, totalling 11.6 million people resoundingly voted for the African National Congress. These masses of our people supported us, not because of the individuals at the helm, but because of the trust and confidence in our movement. Comrade President, leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers - it would be a grievous failure on our part, a travesty of justice indeed, if we were not to recognise the sterling work and contribution made by NUM in delivering this massive victory. In particular, we wish to acknowledge the effort made by the NUM detachment that was deployed in the Eastern Cape. The overwhelming majority we won in that province is as much your victory as it is ours as the ANC. Comrade President, leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers, each and every single member of this organisation, we commend you. Siyanibonga. Rea le leboha. Siyanibulela. Hi mi nkhensa. The elections have now come and gone. The real task of governing and delivering to the electorate mandate must begin in earnest. As we said in the build up to April 22, across the length and breadth of our country, working together we can do more. We are required to do more in a climate unfavourable to us; a difficult economic climate not of our own choosing. The global meltdown continues to wreak havoc in the economies of large and small economies alike. The current recession - the first in almost two decades of positive growth - should offer the country a cause for sombre reflection on the need to do the right things to get our country back on track. Central to this is spending well over R700 billion allocated for infrastructure projects led by government in the next decade. We are going to use the task team made up of labour, government and business to forge a partnership that will make this country withstand the current global economic turmoil, as we did in the so-called emerging markets crisis in 1998. We have a job to do, and we must get on with it. Comrades, let me emphasise that despite the global economic crisis, we remain committed to the creation of decent work, as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Among the measures, is the determination to look at regulation that will address the problems of casualisation, labour brokers and outsourcing. As noted in our Manifesto, these factors contribute to the rise of the working poor. Comrades Our Constitution calls upon us to redress the results of past racial discrimination. We must press on to right the appalling wrongs of history. We are not going to rest until we have attained our goal of a truly non-racial and non-sexist South Africa, one in which all our people see the reality of a better life. We remain as committed to transformation as the ANC has been since 1912. Our Government will neither change the transformation agenda nor its course. The mining sector has a responsibility to play a major role in undoing the last vestiges of many years of racial domination, given its role in the past. This sector must be the shining example of transformation in South Africa. It is clear that this fourth democratic government will have to build on the work of the previous administrations to soldier on with the transformation of the mining industry. As we indicated during the election campaign we will now embark on more rigorous and thorough implementation by the current administration. We are going to work together and even more effectively and collaboratively with key stakeholders such as NUM, to ensure that our people benefit from the exploitation of our mineral resources. The promulgation of the post-apartheid mining legislation, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, on the 1st of May 2004, has already resulted in the transfer of the mineral wealth beneath the soil to the people as whole. While remarkable progress has been made, the implementation of the Charter has not been without challenges. A number of large BEE transactions have taken place in the mining sector, but the sad reality is that only a few of these have embraced the true spirit of broad-based black economic empowerment. This has been accompanied by a limited distribution of the benefits of the Charter. It is the intention, therefore, of the Executive that I now have the privilege to lead to pay specific attention to this issue. We have to do everything in our power to ensure than millions of our people benefit from these transactions. One of the biggest challenges that was highlighted during the election campaign was the role of communities in the mining activities that are taking place largely in Limpopo and the North West. It is clear that a significant section of our people feel that despite progressive legislation, the mining industry and government are not doing enough to ensure that they, too, fully reap the benefits of the mining activities that are taking place. My visit to Mohlotlo outside Mokopane in Limpopo was an eye opener for me. Accordingly, I have directed the Minister of Mining to take urgent steps to use the opening presented by the review of the mining charter to engage communities, mining industry, trade unions such as NUM as well as civil society. This will assist to address this simmering unhappiness in many parts of our country about the issues that I have raised. We will have to work together, government, NUM and the mining industry to resolve these challenges. We know that when times are hard, the National Union of Mineworkers can be counted on. Your commitment to the objectives of the national democratic revolution, and achievement thereof, is never in doubt. Comrades, I am encouraged by the active interest that NUM has taken in the issue of safety and occupational health in the mines. We need to vigorously support and entrench a culture of zero harm in this industry. We have an obligation that when men and women organised in this industry tuck their children in at night, they can know that their loved ones are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that they can sleep peacefully, without the fear of hearing a sudden knock on the door with bad news. The safety record of our mines has become a central issue that will be placed under the scrutiny of government. As of the beginning of this year, we have lost 68 miners due to mining accidents. Even when compared to the 71 lives lost at the same time last year, this is not a good picture at all. Last week alone we have seen a rapid increase in fatalities, with at least nine mine workers dying in the line of duty. We reiterate our condolences to their families and relatives. This situation cannot be tolerated anymore. All stakeholders must work even harder to put an end to this malady. Comrades, the challenges I have mentioned demonstrate clearly that the ANC Alliance has not completed its work. The objectives remain even although the conditions might have changed. Today we can speak of freedom because of the existence of the Alliance. However, its role today will have to be driven by our desire to ensure that we eradicate poverty and joblessness, improve the working conditions of our workers and deal with the lack of access to basic services that our people need. Working together we can do more to meet our goals and build a prosperous nation. I thank you. 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