Category: workers exploitation

Nationalise the mines, start with Lonmin!

Posted on by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) unequivocally calls for the nationalisation of mines. The African National Congress (ANC) government must start with mines that are firing workers, specifically Lonmin.

Lonmin is a corrupt thieving company born out of colonial conquest which collaborated with the state, particularly Cyril Ramaphosa, to slaughter Marikana mine workers because they wanted to earn a mere R12 500.

Instead of paying the R12 500, Lonmin spits on the graves of slain Marikana workers by declaring that they will end the employment of 12 600 workers. To this end, they are starting with 4 100 workers at 6 of its mines.

BLF rejects the unholy alliance between the mining sector and the ANC government. Ramaphosa has promised to create jobs yet he is presiding over the dismissal of over 100 000 workers from Eskom to Anglo American Platinum, Lonmin and other key sectors.

BLF calls for the nationalisation of the mining sector, beginning with all companies who retrench or dismiss workers and those that refuse to pay the living wage that the Marikana miners were killed for.

#NationaliseLonminNow

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee (BLF NCC)

21 May 2019

Black First Land First Email: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Head of Media & Communications)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664

BLF condemns Anglo American Platinum’s dismissal of workers at Mototolo mine

Posted on by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) condemns Anglo American Platinum’s dismissal of  50% of the underground workforce at Mototolo mine.

BLF views the firing of the workers employed at the Anglo American mine as a direct attack by white monopoly capital on the landless.

Ramaphosa’s election has energised white capital and insulated them to the extent that they feel confident to hire and fire as they please. This new found confidence is precisely because they know it was Ramaphosa who sided with Lonmin and called for ‘concomitant action’ on that fatal day when mine workers were slaughtered in Marikana to protect white capital.

The likes of the Oppenheimers and white capital at large know that they can operate with impunity and have moved swiftly to fire the Mototolo based workers.

BLF demands that the Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe moves with speed to nationalise the mines, giving ownership to the workers in order to protect the landless from the abuse of white capital.

BLF further calls for unity of the workers in rejection of this outrageous attack by Anglo American.

Finally, BLF warns Anglo American Platinum, reinstate the workers, pay a living wage or face a mobilisation of the workers towards a shutdown!

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee (BLF NCC)

20 May 2019

Black First Land First Email: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Head of Media & Communications)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664

BLF rejects Ramaphosa’s attempt to crush AMCU

Posted on by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) rejects Ramaphosa’s attempt to crush the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

Post the coup to remove President Zuma, Ramaphosa has continuously used state institutions to fight all his political enemies, in service of white monopoly capital. This will forever be evident in Marikana, when he commanded the South African Police Services (SAPS) to use “concomitant action” when responding to a legitimate workers protest in 2012, resulting in a bloody massacre of our people.

AMCU and it’s President, Joseph Mathunjwa, stood on the side of the workers and against the racist colonial mining company, Lonmin, where Ramaphosa enjoyed shareholding. Ramaphosa has now teamed up with Gwede Mantashe, who is known for his hatred of Mathunjwa, to fight AMCU!

BLF stands with AMCU and all the workers. We demand that Ramaphosa and Mantashe desist from using the state to aid white monopoly capital in destroying AMCU, who have regularly humbled the white establishment by galvanizing the workers through mass action and protests. BLF will write to the labour relations registrar, Lehlohonolo Mole, to defend the right of workers to organise in their defense against white monopoly capital and its agents in government.

#HandsOffAMCU

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee (BLF NCC)

25 April 2019

Black First Land First Email: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Head of Media & Communications)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664

Update on BLF visit with SAFA

Posted on by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) has met with the leadership of the South African Football Association (SAFA), including Acting CEO, Russell Paul, regarding the gender-pay discrimination of Banyana Banyana.

While BLF is appreciative of the conducive environment for open dialogue that was created by SAFA, we take the issue of gender discrimination very seriously and will not compromise on anything less than equity and equal pay between the two national teams.

BLF is well aware that sexism in sports is a global issue and having heard the challenges that SAFA is faced with, we believe that the solution lies with galvanizing many facets of society including the private sector, government and the media, to support Banyana Banyana.

BLF will write a finalisation of aspects we want addressed and SAFA has agreed to respond by next week Friday if not earlier.

BLF has invited members of the media to a press conference on the 24th of April (tomorrow). Amongst other pressing matters, BLF will have an extended update on the outcome and conclusion we wish to reach with regards to SAFA’s pay discrimination.

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

23 April 2019

Black First Land First Email:[email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Head of Media & Communications)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664