—to expedite compensation for silicosis ex-miners

‘Mathatisi Sebusi

PARLIAMENT has joined hands with Tshiamiso Trust to expedite compensation claims for eligible ex-miners who have suffered from debilitating health conditions linked to their work in South African mines.

In a significant move aimed at addressing the long-standing issue of compensation for silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) for former miners, the parliament’s Social Cluster Portfolio Committee has pledged to collaborate closely with the Tshiamiso Trust and other stakeholders to achieve this goal.

During a pivotal meeting held in parliament on April 29, committee members engaged with key stakeholders—including ex-miners, their associations, the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, and beneficiaries of TB and silicosis compensation—to tackle the ongoing challenges that hinder the compensation process.

The call for collaboration comes amid growing frustration among affected beneficiaries, who have long awaited remuneration for their suffering.

Addressing the meeting, committee chairperson Mokhothu Makhalanyane, reaffirmed parliament’s dedication to ensuring that former miners received fair compensation.

“We are here to forge a way forward and work together, not to point fingers,” he stressed, underscoring a spirit of cooperation rather than blame.

Mr Makhalanyane also promised that MPs would assist in tracing claimants and doing all they can to facilitate the process of payments.

“We called this meeting to forge a way forward and work together, not to point fingers,” Mr Makhalanyane said.

Additionally, Mr Makhalanyane said, a motion would be tabled in parliament to establish an ad hoc committee focused specifically on compensation for ex-miners, beyond just silicosis and TB cases.

Additionally, plans are in place for a follow-up meeting that would include representatives from eight countries facing similar compensation issues related to ex-miners, including eSwatini, Botswana and Malawi.

This initiative, Mr Makhalanyane said, indicated a broader recognition that this was not merely a Lesotho problem but one that resonated across borders, affecting countless families.

Despite the positive intentions expressed during the meeting, several former miners and beneficiaries raised serious concerns regarding the Tshiamiso Trust.

Accusations of deliberate delays in compensation payments were voiced, with many alleging that the Trust would conclude its tenure before all eligible recipients have been compensated.

Lithakong Mohajane from the Labourer’s Association highlighted a significant barrier: discrepancies between medical records and death certificates.

Many beneficiaries, including widows and orphans, face obstacles in claiming funds because death certificates often cite “natural causes,” failing to specify silicosis or TB as the cause of death.

“This is a challenge because in Lesotho, death certificates often simply state ‘natural causes’. We have thousands of widows and orphans with the necessary documents who are still unable to access compensation,” Mr Mohajane lamented.

The issue of administrative challenges was echoed by Mantsi Rantšo, Director of the Ex-Miners Association, who noted Tshiamiso’s lack of collaboration with local structures to trace around 1 800 Basotho claimants waiting for compensation.

“People are dying in poverty while waiting for compensation,” he stressed, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Tshiamiso Trust CEO, Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda, nonetheless defended the Trust’s operations, saying it strictly adhered to its Trust Deed. He acknowledged the prevalent issue of inconsistencies between medical records and death certificates but clarified that a death certificate must explicitly indicate that the individual died from a qualifying disease to qualify for compensation.

“Having contracted TB or silicosis during employment does not automatically mean the person died from those diseases,” Dr Kwinda said.

The verification process was crucial for determining eligibility, he said.

Dr Kwinda further explained that the Trust had not collaborated with local structures for tracing claimants due to financial constraints.

However, he expressed willingness to rectify documentation challenges, requesting the Social Cluster Committee to submit a detailed report on the issues faced by Basotho claimants.

As of April 2024, the Tshiamiso Trust had received over 53,000 claims from Basotho but had disbursed compensation to only 9,063 claimants, totalling approximately M827 million.

This statistic underscores the current lag in the compensation process, reinforcing the urgency for collaborative efforts to streamline the operations of the trust to ensure prompt payments to those in need.

Mr Makhalanyane said the stakeholders meeting, held at the Parliament premises in Maseru, had been useful in helping resolve what he described as a complex issue that had affected the lives of countless individuals and families.

His committee would thus work closely with the Tshiamiso Trust and other stakeholders to help all potential recipients of the compensation.

However, he warned the road ahead remained fraught with challenges, and the voices of ex-miners and their advocates must continue to be heard to “ensure that those affected by silicosis and TB receive the compensation they deserve”.