LOBAMBA – Internal family disagreements are stalling the disbursement of funds owed to dependents of deceased former mineworkers, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The matter was brought to the fore after Auditor General Timothy Matsebula reported that E156 054, received in 2013 and designated for the dependents of mineworkers who died while working in South African mines, had not been fully distributed. As of March 31, 2023, E86 136 remained unpaid.
Labour ministry officials said yesterday that efforts since the AG’s report have led to the payout of E39 295, leaving a remaining balance of E46 892. The ministry traced the primary cause of the delay to unresolved disputes within affected families over who should lead the claim process.
To break the deadlock, the ministry has now referred the pending cases to the Master of the High Court, which has jurisdiction over estate matters. The ministry said the office is better positioned to determine rightful beneficiaries and execute the process fairly.
Part of the disbursement procedure requires beneficiaries to complete a verification form that must be endorsed by elders at the local umphakatsi (chief’s residence). Ministry officials revealed that in some cases, beneficiaries are unwilling to carry out this step, either due to family tensions or their location abroad.
Some relatives of the deceased mineworkers are said to be outside the country, further complicating communication and verification efforts. Despite this, the ministry said it will continue to reach out to them.
During a recent Public Accounts Committee session, Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane questioned the location of the remaining funds and whether they were earning interest. The ministry responded that the money is currently held at the Central Bank of Eswatini but is not accumulating any interest.
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