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The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) would like to correct Northam Platinum Mine Management in their statement they issued yesterday (3 November 2013) saying that the company had confirmed and proposed a meeting with the NUM that is scheduled for Tuesday 5 November 2013.

NUM Chief Negotiator at Northam Platinum Ecliff Tantsi said the company never consulted the NUM about the proposed meeting.

"It is irresponsible for Northam Platinum Mine Management to lie to their shareholders and the public in general. We want state categorically clear that ever since we served the company with a 48 hour notice nothing came out from the company for any meeting.This is despite our commitment we made to the company that we will be on standby for 24hours a day to make sure that we find a solution to the impasse. We believe that if it was not the attitude displayed by the management the strike could have been avoided."

"We further made a telephone call to management yesterday (3 November 2013) to indicate that the solution lies on talking and as leaders we cannot lead by silence. They never reciprocated that gesture of goodwill to resolve the strike. Yesterday NUM members started the strike peacefully and not a single person went underground and this is an early indication that the turn out in support of the strike will be 100% tomorrow," said Tantsi.

As the NUM we call upon the shareholders of Northam Platinum not to allow irresponsible attitude by the Northam Platinum Management to continue since we started with wage negotiations. The NUM is committed to peaceful solution for the sake of the employees and the company.

The NUM will meet its members today in Northam Platinum at 10:00 to brief them on the progress of the strike.

For more information, Please contact

Livhuwani Mammburu: 083 809 3257 (Acting  NUM spokesperson)

National Union of Mineworkers

7 Rissik Street

Cnr Frederick

Johannesburg

Tel: 011 377 2111

Cell: 083 809 3257

Web: www.num.org.za<http://www.num.org.za>

Twitter: @Num_Media

"Socialist societies that create better living conditions for the people are unconsciously carrying out what we men of faith consider God's projects in history," said Brazilian liberation theologist Frei Betto.