NUM acted on behalf of miners at Kloof( Gold Fields). The union persuaded management to reinstate 60 strikers who had been freed from prison after facing public violence charges. The NUM organised legal aid and bail for the 60 strikers and others who had been in prison for 6 months.

• At the end of October 1983, NUM won the bargaining rights on collieries.
• By the end of 1983, the NUM had gained a membership capacity of 40 000.
• In 1985 COSATU was launched and gained a membership capacity of 40 000.
• In 1985 COSATU was launched and NUM became part of the largest trade union federation in the country.
• In 1987, the greatest miners' strike, which lasted for 21 days, was followed by the 50 days at the Rustenburg Platinum Refinery in 1988.
• August 1989 the Rand Supreme Court passed a judgement nullifying potentially discriminatory mine regulation.
• 1989, 30 NUM members are reinstated at Forskor after being dismissed for refusing to vote in elections around the formation of a communication forum for black employees.
• 1989 Mining Provident Fund launch
• NUM succeeded to negotiate different funds from Non-Chamber mines such as Randgold Provident Fund; Impala Provident Fund and SAMANCOR Provident Fund and workers are managing all these funds through representation in boards.
• Managed to secure to MPF as a graduate for housing loans, including other funds outside the Chamber of Mines.
• Consolidation of different funds into one big fund is progressing positively and some funds have already joined the MPF, which is a great achievement and a major step towards achieving what NUM has been fighting for.
• NUM succeeded it the restructuring of the De Beers pension fund where workers were totally not represented.
• Tens of thousands of rands has been won in compensation for our members since the launch of NUM in 1982.
• NUM welcome a Supreme Court ruling ordering the reinstatement of more than hundred workers who were dismissed at Marievale Consolidated mines ltd., following a legal strike.
• NUM won tacit recognition at Impala
• NUM succeeded in its angry call to commemorate Kinross disaster on 1 October
• In 1990 64 black employees were holding blasting certificates in positions that were formerly reserved for "scheduled persons''
• September 1993 NUM announces it was running co-operative schemes for ex-miners.
• In December 1993 the NUM opened the first union owned training centre in the country. It subsequently was renamed after its late vice president Cde Elijah Barayi.
• Arising from the Leon Commission Report the Mine Health and Safety Act becomes a law in 1996 resulting in a major victory for NUM.
• Since 1984 we have championed the cause for illiterate workers to have access to adult basic education and training programmes negotiated with the union.
• In 1989 NUM managed to strike an agreement with the Chamber of mines in the establishment of a Mineworkers Provident Fund which is a major victory to date as mineworkers have benefits in the event they loose jobs.
• We have fought for the better accommodation and today almost all hostels are democratised and upgraded.
• The NUM has secured from the management land for affordable Greenfield housing development.
• We have influenced government housing policy to take into account the needs of rural people where many mineworkers come from.
• The NUM managed to get mining houses to agree to sell their houses to workers at affordable prices irrespective of their grades.
• In 1987 the JB Marks Bursary Scheme was launched for members and their dependants.
• The Mining Qualifications Authority was a victory for NUM.