Johannesburg – Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, the long-serving spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), has resigned with immediate effect, citing repeated death threats.
In a resignation letter on Sunday, 1 February 2026, Hlubi-Majola detailed receiving a threatening phone call the day before.
She said she received the threat while travelling to Cape Town.
Hlubi-Majol said she was warned that assassins were tracking her movements.
The SABC reports that it was the third time such a threat had been made against Hlubi-Majola, prompting her decision to step down to protect herself and her family.
Hlubi-Majola’s departure comes at a critical time, as the union prepares for leadership elections that could deepen factional divides.
Hlubi-Majola, known for her outspoken advocacy on labour rights, said she was concerned that tensions within NUMSA could escalate ahead of the national congress later this year.
“I can no longer expose myself or my family to further danger,” she wrote in her resignation letter, highlighting the risks associated with internal union dynamics.
NUMSA, South Africa’s largest trade union with over 300 000 members, has been a key player in the country’s labour movement since its formation in 1987.
NUMSA broke away from the umbrella body, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in 2014, amid ideological clashes, and has since aligned with more radical left-wing politics, often clashing with the government over economic policies.
Union officials have not yet commented on the resignation or the threats.
Police have been notified, but no arrests have been reported.
