Num members pay legal insurance

Johannesburg - National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members pay for legal insurance on top of their membership fees, according to a report on Sunday.

Sociology professor Sakhela Buhlunga, who is a a former trade unionist, told the Sunday Independent: “In the Rustenburg area, NUM members joined Legalwise and Scorpion (legal insurance). When we asked them why, they said just in case the NUM does not deliver.”

The sociology department at the University of Pretoria had conducted three research studies for NUM on the level of satisfaction among union members.

The research said NUM was dysfunctional in the Rustenburg - the scene of violent protests this month when 44 people were killed in labour unrest at Lonmin Platinum.

But NUM general secretary Frans Baleni denied that the union was under-servicing its members, reported the Sunday Independent.

“For example, if a member is arrested for stealing, we don't represent that member, but Legalwise will do that,” said Baleni.