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Ex-Wenela workers to know payment dates
3 hrs ago |
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Former Wenela mineworkers and their dependants are set to find out payment dates for long-awaited compensation this Wednesday, as staff from South Africa’s Tshiamiso Trust arrive in Zimbabwe to oversee the rollout of the programme.
At least 1 000 Zimbabweans who worked in South African gold mines from the 1960s to the 1980s under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) stand to benefit from compensation for silicosis and tuberculosis contracted while on duty.
The milestone coincides with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Zimbabwean Government, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), and the Tshiamiso Trust. The agreement formally authorises the trust to manage claims, conduct medical assessments, and disburse payments, ensuring a smooth and transparent process.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Simon Masanga, described the development as historic.
"This is a milestone moment for ex-Wenela mineworkers. Thousands of men and their families who worked in South African mines and returned home with work-related illnesses will soon access the compensation they have been waiting for," Masanga said.
Payments will range from R10 000 to R500 000 per individual, depending on the severity of illness and terms of the settlement. Dependants of deceased mineworkers who meet the criteria will also benefit.
The programme covers former employees of major mining companies, including African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, and Sibanye-Stillwater. Eligible workers are those who carried out risky work between March 12, 1965, and December 10, 2019, and who were diagnosed with silicosis before December 2021, or contracted tuberculosis while employed or within a year of leaving the mines.
Tshiamiso Trust, established in 2020 following a class action lawsuit in South Africa, has already paid over R1 billion to settle more than 11 000 claims from ex-workers in other countries, including Malawi.
Masanga cautioned claimants to avoid intermediaries promising to accelerate claims. "Only the Tshiamiso Trust is authorised to process these claims. Our focus is on a transparent, fair and efficient rollout that delivers justice to our former mineworkers and their families," he said.
Ex-Wenela Miners Information Trust chairperson, Charles Nyawasha, welcomed the move, calling it long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices endured by Zimbabwean mineworkers.
"Our members have waited decades for this moment. We urge all ex-mineworkers and their families to prepare their documents and make use of the services that will soon be available," Nyawasha said.
The launch of the compensation programme is expected to provide relief, dignity, and recognition to Zimbabwe’s former mineworkers who laboured under hazardous conditions and have long awaited justice.
At least 1 000 Zimbabweans who worked in South African gold mines from the 1960s to the 1980s under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) stand to benefit from compensation for silicosis and tuberculosis contracted while on duty.
The milestone coincides with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Zimbabwean Government, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), and the Tshiamiso Trust. The agreement formally authorises the trust to manage claims, conduct medical assessments, and disburse payments, ensuring a smooth and transparent process.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Simon Masanga, described the development as historic.
"This is a milestone moment for ex-Wenela mineworkers. Thousands of men and their families who worked in South African mines and returned home with work-related illnesses will soon access the compensation they have been waiting for," Masanga said.
Payments will range from R10 000 to R500 000 per individual, depending on the severity of illness and terms of the settlement. Dependants of deceased mineworkers who meet the criteria will also benefit.
The programme covers former employees of major mining companies, including African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, and Sibanye-Stillwater. Eligible workers are those who carried out risky work between March 12, 1965, and December 10, 2019, and who were diagnosed with silicosis before December 2021, or contracted tuberculosis while employed or within a year of leaving the mines.
Tshiamiso Trust, established in 2020 following a class action lawsuit in South Africa, has already paid over R1 billion to settle more than 11 000 claims from ex-workers in other countries, including Malawi.
Masanga cautioned claimants to avoid intermediaries promising to accelerate claims. "Only the Tshiamiso Trust is authorised to process these claims. Our focus is on a transparent, fair and efficient rollout that delivers justice to our former mineworkers and their families," he said.
Ex-Wenela Miners Information Trust chairperson, Charles Nyawasha, welcomed the move, calling it long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices endured by Zimbabwean mineworkers.
"Our members have waited decades for this moment. We urge all ex-mineworkers and their families to prepare their documents and make use of the services that will soon be available," Nyawasha said.
The launch of the compensation programme is expected to provide relief, dignity, and recognition to Zimbabwe’s former mineworkers who laboured under hazardous conditions and have long awaited justice.
Source - Sunday Mail
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