Julius Malema calls for R17,500 minimum wage: Mineworkers deserve fair compensation

• The EFF’s leader Julius Malema has called for an R17,500 minimum wage in the country’s mining sector
• Malema made the declaration at his party’s Workers Day celebrations at the Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal
• Netizens who weighed in on Malema’s statement wondered if it was possible to increase the minimum wage in the current climate

Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered current affairs on radio for over 15 years.

Julius Malema said miners should share the wealth of the precious minerals they retrieve. Images: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

A R17,500 minimum wage would be the only way mineworkers could share the country’s mineral wealth.

Malema on miners’ compensation

This was according to EFF CIC Julius Malema, who was addressing his party’s May Day celebrations at the Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal.

According to EWN, Malema said miners risk their lives to retrieve precious metals from underground; however, their salaries don’t reflect that.

In a video shared by SABC News, Malema added that the lowest-earning worker should be paid R7,500 monthly.

Meanwhile, the DA’s John Steenhuisen told those who attended May Day celebrations in Mitchells Plein, Cape Town, that South Africans had nothing to commemorate due to the high unemployment rate.

Netizens ponder if R17,500 is attainable

Malema’s pursuit of an R17,500 minimum wage in the mining sector has ignited conversations on whether such a feat was attainable in South Africa.

@Mabovini_ZN said:

“I said it is pointless to debate something that will not happen. Malema doesn’t know the price of bread but he is talking about the minimum wage.”

@collsmas added:

“But Julius Malema is desperate xem, it was SASSA grant now minimum wage, we all know that what he is saying is impossible yet some still call him a leader ”

@TlhakeU sided with Malema:

“The amount of Minerals and risk they take underground they deserve it, even more. Let’s not allow WMC to convince us otherwise.”

@tsitso09 thought:

“Malema must own a mine so that he can pay these salaries. These politicians can hardly pay their domestic workers well. Some even treat them badly, yet they speak progressively on public platforms.”

@KennethTVafana pointed out:

“That is fair. Mine owners make billions. If miners strike one day, you hear the mining executive claiming they have lost R400 million.”

Julius Malema’s son’s Matric dance pics set tongues wagging

Briefly News reported that EFF leader Julius Malema shared a heartwarming message about part of his fatherhood journey on social media.

The commander-in-chief posted a picture and video of him helping his son, Ratanang, prepare for his matric dance on his Instagram profile, julius.malema.sello.

Malema’s posts, which showed the CIC helping his son straighten his tie and blazer and playing chauffeur, were shared by various media houses.