Key Points
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NUM rejects Beeshoek Mine closure and retrenchments.
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Nearly 700 jobs could vanish in the Northern Cape.
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The union vows legal and collective action if needed.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has come out strongly against the proposed closure of the Assmang Beeshoek Iron Ore Mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape, warning that nearly 700 workers could lose their jobs.
Assmang has issued a Section 189 notice under labor law, beginning a consultation process that could see 688 employees retrenched. The move follows financial pressures at ArcelorMittal South Africa, the mine’s sole major client.
NUM says the fallout will ripple far beyond the gates of Beeshoek, devastating families and the wider Postmasburg community.
Retrenchment notice sparks worker fears
The company’s plan comes just months after another round of retrenchments elsewhere in its operations. At Beeshoek, the numbers are stark: hundreds of breadwinners face unemployment in a province already grappling with high joblessness.
NUM demands answers on job losses
Union leaders say Assmang must prove the shutdown is unavoidable. They want a full account of why retrenchment is being prioritized over alternatives such as redeployment, reskilling, or voluntary exit packages.
NUM has also demanded clarity on severance, medical aid, and the long-term impact on outsourced contractors.
Workers brace for tough decisions
NUM insists it will fight for every job and is pressing Assmang to consider freezing recruitment, reducing overtime, or placing the mine on care-and-maintenance rather than closing it outright.
“Retrenchment cannot be the default option,” the union said, warning it will escalate the matter to arbitration or even court if talks break down.
The union has called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to step in, stressing that government oversight is crucial in preventing another major blow to South Africa’s mining workforce.
For now, NUM has urged its members at Beeshoek to remain calm and united, vowing: “No worker will face this process alone.”
