Ian Macun and Sakhela Buhlungu spoke to Gwede Mantashe, assisting general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and key unionist in COSATU about various issues facing the union movement. Other positions he holds are, member of the Labour Market Commission (LMC) appointed by the labour minister, ANC councillor in Boksburg, member of the SA Communist Party’s Politburo and NUM representative on Samancor’s board of directors and on Eskom’s governing body, the Electricity Council.