Mbabane – More than 5,000 ex-mineworkers in Eswatini who suffer from lung damage linked to silicosis and work-related tuberculosis are at the centre of a fresh push by the Tshiamiso Trust to accelerate compensation claims.
Since 2020, over 5,222 claims have been lodged at TEBA offices in Mbabane and Nhlangano. So far, over R96 million has been paid to 1,000 qualifying claimants, including the families of deceased miners. Around 900 claimants are still waiting for their Benefit Medical Examinations (BMEs), which are key in determining eligibility for compensation.
To speed up the process, the Trust is now expanding its services beyond the two TEBA centres, with mobile units heading to clinics and hospitals in Hlatikhulu, Manzini, Mbabane, Pigg’s Peak and Siteki throughout June.
Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda, the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, urged former gold miners with permanent lung damage from silicosis or TB to lodge their claims or undergo the required medical assessments. “Time is running out for many of our people. We need to ensure they get assessed and compensated if they qualify,” he said.
BMEs will begin at Hlatikhulu Government Hospital from 26–30 May, followed by Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini (2–6 June), Mbabane City Council Clinic (9–11 June), Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital (12–13 June), and finally The Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki (16–17 June). These services are only for new claims and those waiting for BMEs — not for follow-ups.
The BME is a medical check-up that examines whether the mineworker has sustained lung damage from silicosis or TB, which are the only two diseases covered under the Trust. The Trust does not offer compensation simply for having had TB or silicosis — only for lasting lung impairment caused by these diseases.
If a claimant is suspected to have active TB during the BME, they will be referred for treatment and can only be reassessed once they are medically cleared.
The Trust’s Medical Certification Panel reviews all BME results to decide whether a claim qualifies. Data from Tshiamiso shows that around 70% of claims are rejected because they do not meet the strict criteria.
To be eligible, claimants must have worked in qualifying risk roles at specified gold mines owned by major companies such as Anglo American, Gold Fields, and Harmony between March 1965 and December 2019. Living claimants must prove they have lung damage caused by silicosis or TB, while families of deceased miners must show proof of silicosis or TB-related death.
Each claim is evaluated according to one of 10 compensation categories listed in the Trust’s deed. Approved claimants receive a once-off payment and cannot submit a second claim, even if their condition worsens. However, those initially rejected can reapply if their health changes and they develop qualifying symptoms.
The Trust warned claimants against scammers pretending to assist with claims or promising faster payments. The only fee involved is R1,400 for the BME, but this applies only to those who worked less than five years in qualifying mine jobs — and is refunded if the claim is approved.
Claimants can contact the Trust by calling +27 10 500 6186, texting +27 78 504 9004 via WhatsApp, messaging the Tshiamiso Trust Facebook page, or emailing info@tshiamisotrust.com.
Dr Kwinda said despite some setbacks and frustrations among applicants, the Trust remains committed to its work in eSwatini. “We’ve already paid more than 22,000 claims across the region. With continued support from the eSwatini government and our partners, we hope to reach even more affected mineworkers.”
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