BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI
THE news of the sudden and unexpected passing away of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) central executive committee (CEC) member and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) General Secretary David Kolekile Sipunzi struck many of us in the trade union movement like a bolt of lightning.
Even in a year that has seen many of our comrades and members lose their lives, this one cuts deep.
Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, colleagues and his friends.
Sipunzi was a veteran of the trade union movement, having started working for Harmony Gold in 1985 and joined the National Union of Mineworkers the same year.
He became an NUM Shaft Steward in 1986 and in 1987 he was elected the NUM Shaft deputy secretary.
In 1991, Sipunzi was elected the NUM Free State Deputy Regional Secretary.
In 1993, he was elected the NUM Deputy Branch Secretary
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