By OBAKENG MAJE
4 February 2026- The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola has tendered her resignation citing death threats. On 27 January 2026, Hlubi-Majola was to join NUMSA General Secretary, Irvin Jim as part of her work in Parliamentary in Cape Town, where Jim was to make a presentation to the Parliamentary Committee of Trade, Industry and Competition on the implementation of the South African Automotive Master Plan with stakeholders.
Jim said before Hlubi-Majola could join him in parliament from the hotel where she was staying, she received a message from an unknown number informing her that she should be careful as there were people following her who knew all her movements and were paid to kill her. He said Hlubi-Majola then sent a message to him, stating that she was no longer going to join him in Parliament and that she had already booked a return flight and would be leaving Cape Town.
“I asked what was happening and whether she had the number of the person who had sent the threatening message to her. She responded later in the day with a message in which she apologised for not coming back on time as she had been on a plane returning back to Johannesburg. She then forwarded a screenshot of the message from this unknown person.
“The following day, at approximately 8:30am, Hlubi-Majola sent her letter of resignation to the NUMSA General Secretary resigning from the union as the national spokesperson,” he said.
Jim further said as the union leadership, having reflected on her wish to resign the union accepted her resignation and on Thursday, they sent an internal memo in the union, communicating that two other NUMSA comrades received similar threatening messages. He added that in their internal memo to the staff and the union members, the NUMSA leadership condemned the assassination threat.
“We were very clear that such threats have no place in NUMSA, and that the union was taking extraordinary measures to embark on a process to investigate the culprits behind the threats. We were very clear that the union will not be intimidated by such threats. It is also important to state that in the internal memo condemning these cowardly threats we also informed the union that two other NUMSA comrades were subjected to these threatening messages.
“The reason why we did not mention Phakamile Hlubi-Majola by name and the other two comrades who had similar threats in the internal memo was because of security considerations and all sensitivities on matters of this nature,” said Jim.
He said, however, they have observed over the past weekend that the ‘cat is out of the bag’ as the details of her resignation were unfortunately leaked to one media house. Jim said it remains NUMSA’s position that they do not intend to discuss Hlubi-Majola’s resignation from the union with the public, especially in the media.
“We are of the view that such matters are confidential matters between herself and NUMSA as her employer. The union having reflected on her letter of resignation, took the decision to accept her resignation. We have stated that Hlubi-Majola’s resignation is a huge loss to the union.
“We expressed on behalf of the union and all Metalworkers our heartfelt gratitude for her contribution and dedicated service over the period of her employment at NUMSA. We wish her the very best in her future efforts as a journalist and a progressive activist,” he said.
Jim said it is their honest view that Phakamile Hlubi-Majola will not be lost to the working class struggle as she is a powerful mass communicator for the working class and its struggles. He said therefore, they are of the view that regardless of where she will be, they think that as NUMSA, they would still be able to identify areas of mutual benefit and cooperation in the best interest of the working class.
The Guardian 