NEHAWU Wishes NUM a Successful 18th National Congress
Tuesday June 24, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] wishes its sister union, the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] a very successful and united 18th National Congress taking place as from today, the 24th – 26th of June 2025.
The congress is convened under the theme “The Epoch for the Dictatorship of The Proletariat Now or Never”. This congress comes at the time when the working people and the working class in general are subjected to suffocation, pains and miseries as a result of neo liberal policies imposed by government and bosses. NUM, as our reliable and critical ally in the broader working class struggles, we stand united with NUM in our shared and committed strategic perspective to overthrow capitalism as an exploitative barbaric and inhuman system in advancing the interests of the working class and workers in particular.
Indeed, this congress takes place against the background of vicious and relentless onslaught on collective bargaining and the eroding of workers’ rights by the employers in the construction and mining industry. This is evident with employers resorting to retrenchments as part of an onslaught on mine and construction workers.
As NEHAWU, we are looking forward to a congress that will be characterized by robust and in-depth debates on how to strengthen the ability of NUM in continuing to be a fighting and campaigning militant union that places the interests of workers at the centre against the super exploitative mining, construction and energy conglomerates, that have subjected workers into unbearable and inhumane working conditions and poverty wages all in the name of profit maximisation.
We are confident that the congress will deliberate on a concrete programme of action that will focus on protecting job security of members, fighting against retrenchments and privatisation, defending collective bargaining and campaigning for health and safety in the workplace amongst others in the defence of workers.
It is our belief that delegates attending the congress will map out a strategy to deepen class consciousness, defend collective bargaining and to forge the unity of NUM that has been built over time.
As NEHAWU, we hope the NUM will emerge from this congress with a revived energy and resolute to defend the essence of its existence and strong to confront all forms of neo-liberalism. Indeed, NEHAWU is looking forward to the outcomes of this historic congress and ready to engage its sister union on them for a joint possible programme in the terrain of struggle.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za
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