Zondwa Mandela‚ Thulani Ngubane and Khulubuse Zuma must pay former Aurora workers what is due to them, now

13 May 2016

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) welcomes the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment against the directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems. This could pave a clear way for more than 500 workers to be paid their well-deserved money amounting to R1.7 billion.

"We welcome the judgement considering the fact that the case dragged for so many years, and for us it is long overdue, says NUM Deputy President Joseph Montisetsi.

The NUM, as a caring trade union, has for many years kept those workers surviving by donating food parcels and other basic needs to the former employees who are squatting at debilitated hostels in both Klerksdorp, North West and Springs, east of Johannesburg.

"It is unfortunate that some of these poor workers died in the process while others who are from our neighbouring states left while waiting for their monies. As NUM, we want to appeal to the judiciary system to immediately attach properties owned by the directors of the Aurora Empowerment Systems, put them on auction to start paying the workers.

That process should commence immediately and it must be completed before the end of this year", says Montisetsi.

In June last year‚ the High Court in Pretoria had ruled that the Aurora directors could be held liable for damages that could amount to R1.7 billion.

The court concluded that they had acted recklessly and fraudulently when they assumed control of the Pamodzi assets. The mines were idled and stripped of assets‚ leaving some employees without pay for months.

The NUM is currently in talks with the departments of Mineral Resources and Labour to fast track the reskilling of workers affected by unfair labour practices by mining houses so that they could be employable again either in the same sector or other sectors.

Issued by Joseph Montisetsi, NUM Deputy President, 13 May 2016