NUM helps to eliminate the scourge of ILLETERACY

By Ilhaam Hoosain
09 September 2007

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) joins millions of people worldwide in celebrating International Literacy Day yesterday. NUM believes that international literacy day is a time to reflect and highlight the plight of millions of South African people still using their thumbs as signatures.

“We are looking at ways in which to as the National Union of Mineworkers, work with various partners particularly industry leaders in the mining industry to ensure that the high illiteracy levels within the mining industry is surely eliminated,” says NUM National Spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka.

South Africa has a total of 9, 6 million illiterate people. In the mining industry alone, approximately 20% of the workers are entirely unschooled and 40% functionally illiterate.

To commemorate this day, the Num will in conjunction with Angloplat Ashanti and the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) hold an international Literacy celebration at Harry Oppenheimer stadium in Orkney today.