The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) held successful marches in Randburg and Cape Town, yesterday Monday September 09, 2013.

Both marches were attended by thousands of workers cheaply exploited and subjected to racialised apartheid low wages in garages, components manufacturers, truck body and trailer builders, panel beaters, spare shops, car and parts dealership, and fitment by the Motor sector ruling oligarchy.

The workers in Randburg’ s march were inspired and emboldened by the address made by the COSATU General Secretary comrade Zwelinzima Vavi, in his private capacity as a citizen of this country, but most importantly as a indispensable voice of the working class, a fearless champion of workers interests and ardent believer in justice for all. Comrade Vavi was warmly received by striking workers. This buried the falsehood and slanderous accusations by some who say that the democratically elected leadership of Numsa, particularly our General Secretary comrade Irvin Jim, has elevated comrade Zwelinzima Vavi into a personality cult and our principled defense of him is not shared by our members.

Yesterday’s marches did not only signal our resoluteness and firm stance in taking the fight to the greedy bosses doorsteps or backyard, but formed part of our organisational strategy to exert pressure to the bosses to concede to our wage demands and improved conditions of employment. We will be unleashing all our power at our disposal to force the bosses to return back to the bargaining table with a decent offer in order to settle or resolve the strike action.

We have received allegations being made by employers and the media , that our striking members are assaulting non-striking members. These are unsubstantiated allegations. We are taking these allegations seriously and are following up and investigating with our structures. NUMSA does not condone violence.

Since the commencement of the strike, our members have exercised high levels of discipline and maturity. We are suspicious that rotten elements, particularly criminals might be hijacking our genuine and legitimate strike, in order to undermine our wage grievances with the stinking rich bosses. We always encourage our members to exercise maximum discipline wherever we embark on strike actions. Our members will never act outside the ambit of the law. Any evidence that suggest otherwise, the union is duty bound to apply its disciplinary code of conduct in such circumstances.

If both FRA and RMI are willing to settle or resolve the strike, they must come to the meeting tomorrow, 11 September 2013 and Thursday, 12 September 2013 with serious offers to resolve the strike. We have consistently stated our principled commitment to meet with them provided their give us a decent wage offer, we can take to our members for a mandate.

Below are details of marches that will be taking place in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape;

1. Mpumalanga province: Wednesday 11 September 2013, Witbank	• 3000 Workers will converge outside the Numsa Regional Office, 10 Hofmeyer Street, at 9h00am; • At 10h00am, workers led by Numsa National Treasurer MPHUMZI MAQUNGO, will march to hand-over a Memorandum of Demands to FRA and RMI at the MIBCO offices, OR Tambo Street, Witbank	Contact: Eric Linda, Numsa Regional Secretary, 0836266358
2. Eastern Cape: Thursday 12 September 2013, Port Elizabeth	• 5000 Workers will converge at Jebe Nangoza Community Hall (formerly Centenary Hall), New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, at 9h00am;   • At 10h00am,workers led by Numsa Deputy General Secretary KARL CLOETE, will march to hand-over a Memorandum of Demands to FRA and RMI at Vuyisile Mini Square, Govan Mbeki Street, Port Elizabeth	Contact: Phumzile Nodongwe, Regional Secretary, 0836539317 / 0788023140
3. KwaZulu-Natal: Thursday 12 September 2013, Durban	• 8000 Workers will converge at King Dinizulu statue, opposite the Durban Christian Centre (DCC), Berea Road, Durban, at 9h00am;   • At 10h00am, workers led by Numsa General Secretary IRVIN JIM, will march to hand-over a Memorandum of Demands to FRA and RMI at the Durban’s City Hall, West Street	Contact: Mbuso Ngubane, Numsa Regional Secretary, 0795023242 Or Castro Ngobese, National Spokesperson, 0810111137
4. Free State: Thursday 12 September 2013, Bloemfontein	• 4000 Workers will converge at Hertzog Square (next to SA Revenue Services), at 9h00am;  • At 10h00am, workers led by Numsa 1st Deputy President ANDREW CHIRWA, will march to hand-over a Memorandum of Demands to FRA and RMI offices at Cnr 3rd Street and Press Reitz Street, Bloemfontein	Contact: Andile Zitho, Numsa Regional Secretary, 0832538561

Members of the media are hereby invited to attend and report
Contact:

Castro Ngobese
National Spokesperson
Mobile: 0810111137
Twitter: @castrongobese
Email> castron@numsa.org.za
Website: www.numsa.org.za