By Levy Masiteng
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, the national spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), has resigned with immediate effect, citing repeated death threats against her life and safety as the reason for her departure.
In her resignation letter on Sunday, Hlubi-Majola alleged that on Saturday, while she was travelling to Cape Town, she received a call saying that individuals had been sent to assassinate her and that her movements were being monitored.
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According to reports, this is the third time someone had threatened her life.
“I can no longer expose myself or my family to further danger,” Hlubi-Majola wrote in the letter.
Her departure came at a critical time for NUMSA, which is preparing for its National Congress later this year.
Hlubi-Majola’s career spanned roles in journalism and labour advocacy. Before joining NUMSA in 2019, she worked as a journalist which gave her a high public profile and experience in speaking on contentious national issues.
Within the union, she became a prominent and familiar communicator, representing NUMSA at wage negotiations, protests, and policy debates.
NUMSA has not yet issued a public response to her resignation.
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