The MK Party Greater Johannesburg Region together with the party’s labour desk has called on all residents of Zone 7 Dobsonville Extension 3, Dobsonville Extension 2, Island Gardens, Slovoville, Lefureng, Doornkop and all areas which are within the 10 km radius of Harmony Gold Mine to join a peaceful yet determined march to Harmony Gold Mine which is situated in Doornkop to demand jobs there.
Members of MKP in Joburg region
According to MK Party regional spokesperson Nhlanhla Maphalala, the MK Party wants jobs for the youths at the mines, inclusion of local businesses and transparency in the mine’s social and labour plan.
Harmony Gold Mine in Johannesburg
“It is worth noting that the last time residents leaving near the Harmony Gold Mine received any clear information regarding the mine’s social and labour plan was in 2018 and since then the current Ward Councillors and the mine’s management have not been transparent but have instead been confusing our people by offering them small CSIR projects which are not related to the mine’s Social and Labour Plan,” complained Maphalala.
“In the past when people applied for jobs they were required to submit their CVs and would even spend their last money preparing the said CVs, only for the management of the mine to collect the CVs and put them in a container and hire workers via labour brokers, thus excluding our people,” he said.
“This system of using labour brokers is unfair and secretive and must therefore come to an end,” fumed Maphalala.
The march to demand jobs at the Harmony mine is planned for Friday 16 January 2026
“On that day we will be introducing a transparent and fair process whereby anyone looking for a job should bring along a piece of paper with their names, ID numbers, name of their Ward and cellphone numbers,” he said.
“For those looking for business opportunities at the mine we urge them to bring their company name, sector and contact numbers and all this information will be put in a designated box so that when the mine management needs any business or labour, then potential employees or service providers shall be drawn from the said box in front of everybody for the sake of transparency” said Maphalala.
He said this march is also a direct response to Minerals and Energy Affairs Minister Gwede Mantashe who said South African youths are lazy.
“We are saying it loud and clear that our people are not lazy but that they are actually hard-working and disciplined, but have been locked out of opportunities for too long now,” he said.
He said the Mining Charter clearly states that mining companies must promote the employment of historically disadvantaged South Africans and support the growth of local small, medium and micro enterprises.
“These are our rights and we will not be ignored and I must emphasise that the march will be peaceful and no acts of intimidation will be tolerated,” he said.
The march will start at the Impala at Mathaereng at 8am before proceeding to Harmony Gold Mine premises.
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