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10 July, 2006
The sad reminder that the safety of trade union leaders is still not secure in South Africa was brought home when National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Branch Chairperson Elias Malaudzi was assassinated after leaving work on 3 July.
Malaudzi, 46, was the NUM chairperson of Goldfields’ Driefontein gold mine in Carletonville, a worksite which has seen two previous union leaders killed by violent acts. Comrade Malaudzi has been credited by the NUM with playing a pivotal role in making his branch “one of the most united structures, and the biggest branch in the Carletonville region.” The husband and father was stopped by an armed man, who shot him in the head, and then once in the chest as he fell.
A 26-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal, who does not work at the mine, was apprehended soon after the murder. Comrade Malaudzi was a community leader in Carletonville area, serving as a town councillor.
“It is important that all of our members, and workers in general, at the mine remain calm in this face of tragedy,” said NUM General Secretary Frans Baleni. “Serious concerns were raised about the fact that another union leader from the same mine was once more killed by an unknown Zulu-speaking person.
“The union is concerned that these sentiments could invoke tribal and factional emotions that may be deep-seated in the area,” added Baleni. “We hope that the Goldfields management will play their part in this regard, too.”
The ICEM backed Baleni’s call for calmness in a letter sent to the NUM, further expressing condolences to the union and to the family of Comrade Malaudzi.