Lobamba – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is under fire due to its silence over the delaying compensation claims from South African mines.
The Eswatini National Ex Mine Workers Association (ESNEMA) reached out to the PAC seeking its intervention on two critical matters that confront former mine workers: the Tshiamiso Trust and the Voluntary Deferred Pay (VDP) special fund.
In a letter addressed to the PAC Chairperson, Mhlangatane Member of Parliament, Mandala Mhlanga also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, ESNEMA raised concerns of being excluded in the campaign to locate and find qualifying claimants. However, several attempts by Independent News to get Mhlanga’s view failed.
On August 2, 2024, ESNEMA, which represents thousands of ex-mineworkers, announced to the PAC that it had ‘issues left unattended’ by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
“The purpose of this communication is to request and solicit guidance about the function of the Tshiamiso Trust, which handles the claim benefit of TB Silicosis and its collaboration between the Ministry of Health,” the letter reads in part.
ESNEMA’s Secretary General, Winile Mtsetfwa, said it was Tshiamiso Trust – which in its compensation drive for the claims of over 5 000 ex mine workers in the country who suffered from lung-damage linked to silicosis and work-related tuberculosis – invited them to take part in the national plans to start processing ex mineworkers’ Benefit Medical Examination (BMEs) so that they get their 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 BMEs, which are key in determining eligibility for compensation.
To speed up the process, the Trust concluded in June its expanded services beyond the two TEBA centres, with mobile units heading to clinics and hospitals in Hlatikhulu, Manzini, Mbabane, Pigg’s Peak and Siteki.
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.
ESNEMA said the other stakeholder in this process was the Ministry of Health (MOH) through the National TB Control Programme (NTCP).
Mtsefwa said ESNEMA and NTCP reached the agreement to collaborate with the facilitation, mobilisation and awareness-raising but these activities became very difficult to accomplish due to lack of resources.
“Mobilization is not financed, members are contacted directly by the Trust hence dissemination of information is unguided, structures are not clear who accounts for all this,” Mtsetfwa said.
ESNEMA accused the parties of failing to honour the agreement, saying openness and transparency between the stakeholders ceased.
This put them in an awkward position as ESNEMA failed to explain how the deal fell out, Mtsetfwa said, adding that members accused them of failing to prioritise life-threatening issues.
“Ex miners continue to die. The widows receive contradicting messages. Some are compensated but some are not, and some receive approval then later are told they don’t qualify. [Ministry of Health (MOH)] dictates its activities, leading to poorly coordinated efforts towards our clients,” Mtsetfwa said.
ESNEMA is a registered association recommended by Parliament.
ESNEMA said they were affiliated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security but have also been allegedly ignored whenever they try to engage with its officials on the Tshiamiso Trust mobilisation as well as the Voluntary Deferred Pay (VDP) concerns.
“…no action has been taken. Tshiamiso Trust’s failure to cooperate is continually leading to the suffering of Emaswati, they continue to die like flies and widows are left uncompensated. It’s time proper structures are set to ensure uninterrupted service and improved livelihood of Emaswati,” Mtsetfwa said.
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.
The Trust warned claimants against scammers pretending to assist with claims or promising faster payments.
Claimants were advised to 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.
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