Those in KwaZulu Natal that have known Numsa and Mawu and Fosatu before that, will know comrades Dora Mafunda (Pietermaritzburg local), Maxwell Shabalala (Ladysmith local) and Skhumbuzo Khubeka (Newcastle local) well.
All have taken voluntary severance packages from Numsa after 38 years service between them.
Mafunda began her trade union career in the 1980s when she began working for Fosatu as an administrator in the Pietermaritzburg office.
She moved across to Numsa in 1988.
But Mafunda is not going to take time off to relax. She plans to get involved in her township women’s garden project and she is determined to organise ex-members from Cosatu affiliates to “see what we can do for unity”.
Although Khubeka and Shabalala have served Numsa as local organisers since 1993, before that they were active and militant Numsa (and Mawu) shop stewards in Metal Press, Mobeni, Durban and Dunlop, Ladysmith respectively and led the union in their locals.
Khubeka is relaxing for a month but has plans to get working again soon.
Shabalala will have his last day in Numsa on June 30 and plans to revive his shop-owner skills that he put on hold while working for Numsa.
Numsa salutes their dedication to the struggle!