Phillip Vilakazi unseats Dan Balepile to become NUM’s new president

JOHANNESBURG - In a surprising twist of events at the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) 18th national congress in Boksburg on Thursday night, Phillip Vilakazi has unseated his boss, Dan Balepile, to become the union’s new president.

Vilakazi took on Balepile during a three-day conference in a heated race in the country’s oldest mining union.

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Having joined the NUM, Vilakazi became the union’s deputy president during the union’s 16th national congress in June 2018.

With a total of 747 ballots, Vilakazi beat Balepile by 80 votes.

Olehile Kgware is the new deputy president.

Mpho Phakedi will run the union’s engine room as the general secretary and will be deputised by Phillip Mankge.

Hellen Diatile returns as the national treasurer general.

A special congress will be held within a month to finalise the congress’s unfinished business.