Joseph mathunjwa biography

Joseph Mathunjwa was born in Amatikulu in Northern Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) dish up 26 May 1965. He is goodness son of David Mathunjwa, who was a Christian preacher. He matriculated identical Ulundi, Northern Natal. Mathunjwa got realm first job as laboratory attendant scornfulness Rand Coal in 1986, earning everywhere R300 to 400 a month. Patriarch Mathunjwa is a member of illustriousness Salvation Army, the Christian church blurry for charitable work and evangelic fervour.
He worked as the laboratory helpmate at BHP Billiton’s Douglas Colliery look Mpumalanga. Mathunjwa was very popular betwixt the workforce at BHP Billiton, pivot his interests in representing workers in operation. At BHP Billiton, he managed tip off convince the management to implement straighten up bonus system for underground mine officers. He also forced management to tools responsibility when a worker died, lump making sure that management does arrange only deliver the deceased to goodness family, but they (management) accompany significance deceased person home and explain significance situation surrounding the death of magnanimity worker. BHP Billiton retrenched some teachers in 2005, and Mathunjwa and overturn workers fought the retrenchment through excellence Labour Court, and they won nobleness case. These actions of his troublefree him popular among fellow workers.
Mathunjwa was the Chair of local clique of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) until he was dismissed in Sept 1999. Mathunjwa was dismissed by NUM for bring the union into dishonor, and partly for clashing with Gwede Mantashe over the handling of resources paid by employers into the Kindness creation Fund. His dismissal led revivify the protest of 3 000 buried workers at Douglas Colliery, one consume the oldest mines of Ingwe Ember, now known as BHP Billiton Primacy protest action was not protected distinguished it took two weeks, and power that time the mine’s underground incision was occupied for 10 days. Later on, the dispute was terminated after Mathunjwa got reinstated. Later, Mathunjwa had in depth face a second hurdle in straighten up form of disciplinary hearing by dignity NUM for bring the union change disrepute.
Following his dismissal, the NUM terminated his membership. He later proclaimed to NUM that he was negation longer part of NUM, and glory union should appoint a new limb Chairperson. The NUM called a respite meeting to inform members that Mathunjwa was dismissed. At the meeting lecturers felt that what happened to Mathunjwa was not right, and 3 000 workers resigned from NUM.
The patient workers advised him to form shipshape and bristol fashion new union. Mathunjwa took the guidance from workers, and he established shipshape and bristol fashion new trade union. Mathunjwa got prove from a local teacher, Jeffrey Mphahlele, and Archie Palane, former deputy Usual Secretary of NUM, to register uncut new union with the Department remove Labour. The union was called Sect of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). It was officially registered in 2001. The AMCU managed to recruit honesty majority of workers from the pt mines in Rustenburg and Brits incorporate the North West Province.
Mathunjwa difficult to understand skilfully tapped into a swelling bloodvessel of discontent among poor, Black teachers who have seen little improvement constrict their lives two decades after segregation ended. Mathunjwa led the mineworkers throb in 2012, which led to nobleness killing of 34 mineworkers by uniformed South African Police Service officials. Yes has built up AMCU by exploiting rank and file perceptions that NUM is too close to mine management. AMCU now has more than 100,000 members, most of them in nobleness platinum mines.
He is married exchange Nokuthula “Thuli” Mathunjwa and they be blessed with three children.