By Palesa Mofoti and Khumo Makame
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is mobilizing with all progressive parties for a mass strike against Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, after workers were served lay-off notices without pay and later faced disciplinary action for embarking on strike action.
The hungry workers embarked on a strike after they either suffered an 8.5-10% salary cut or no salary at all, after being served with notices in September.
The mine is accused of toying with the lives of desperate workers and applying intimidation tactics since the beginning of the strike on 31 October.
From 2020, they suffered 25% salary cuts, followed by 12,5% the following year, then 10% early in 2025.
About 185 out of 400 workers were served with the lay-offs since 22 September 2025, which are expected to last for 10 months.
The workers compared their working conditions to the apartheid era.
They called for the sale of the mine if Ekapa was incapable of discharging its responsibilities.
The miners have also called for the Hawks to interdict the financial assets of the Mine, and they have pleaded for intervention, citing that they have exhausted all avenues and their employer is “untouchable.”
“They should sell off the mine to better people who will meet the demands of the workers,” shouted one frustrated worker.
Voicing her frustrations, the worker said his unpaid salary has affected his daily needs.
“My children cannot go to school because the transport money has not been paid. I had to walk to town because I did not have transport money,” she said.
The workers also expressed displeasure with the provincial government, calling for immediate intervention from the Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul.
Throughout the process, Ekapa Mine has been accused of displaying arrogant and bullying tactics towards the workers, resulting in disciplinary action being meted out to more than 40 workers.
According to the workers, they were informed that they were served for participating in an unprotected strike action.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said no cases have been registered with SAPS, and no arrests executed by the police during the alleged picketing outside the premises of a mine company in Kimberley.
Numsa representative Lerato Mahatlane, confirmed that the workers who embarked on the strike were accused by the mine of engaging in an unprotected and unlawful strike, and were called in for a disciplinary hearing on 12 November.
He said they were still awaiting the outcomes of the hearings.
Mahatlane said the hearings came while the union was still fighting the issuing of the lay-offs, as they felt it was unlawful.
He said the employer did not act in the interest of the workers, nor did it embark on Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act(LRA).
“According to the Act, the employer only applies a temporary layoff when it is in financial distress.
“The process has to start with the company serving the union first, in order for the engagements to start.
“All parties had to discuss the situation and agree on whether there is a need to retrench or impose any temporary layoffs.
“The layoff notices were supposed to be sent with the consent from the union so that the workers are prepared,” explained Mahatlane.
“In this process, the employer never consulted the union regarding the unilateral changes. We learned from the workers in September that they were served.”
We have already started with engagements with other organizations, including government and political offices. Some of them are ready to lend us an ear.”
“We will be appearing before the CCMA on the 20th November, and at the Magistrate’s court on the 28th.”
Efforts to get comment for the Ekapa Mine were unsuccessful.
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