adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE Ex-Wenela Miners’ Association has so far registered 2,742 former South African mine workers in the country and will next week submit their names to a South African law firm, Xulu Attorneys Incorporated, for the former workers to be paid their outstanding pensions. The association’s chairperson, Lungelwe Mkhwananzi, said the law firm had already received forms for 34 clients from the country that were going to be presented in the Pretoria High Court in August.
“We’ve so far registered 2,742 people with the association. The association managed to record all their particulars as well as gather all the necessary information for proof of employment and the papers are ready for submission.
“Our lawyers, Xulu Attorneys Incorporated of South Africa, wrote to us seeking confirmation for power of attorney for the 34 clients as their matter will be presented before the Pretoria High Court next month,” said Mkhwananzi.
He said the law firm had also requested names of more clients.
Mkhwananzi said plans were underway to conduct outreach programmes in various provinces and rural communities. He, however, said the programme could not be immediately implemented as the association was financially constrained.
He said the association was utilising various platforms of disseminating information but there were challenges in reaching out to remote areas.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response since this issue was published in the newspaper. However, we’re concerned that people in remote areas might not be aware of the programme. There’s a great need to have these outreach programmes so that no one is left out in this registration process,” said Mkhwananzi.
He said a number of the former South African mine workers had now settled in rural communities.
The association is in the process of registering former South African miners who were employed in the neighbouring country in the 70s, 80s and 90s in a bid to retrieve claims and benefits owed to them by their former employers and the South African government.
Mkhwananzi said those wishing to register under the association could visit their offices in Bulawayo at number 49 Josiah Tongogara Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue or call on 0715 877 966.
The director of Xulu Attorneys Incorporated, Barnabas Xulu, said miners who were employed during the apartheid period were entitled to certain benefits such as pensions and provident funds.
He said former workers who had contracted chronic illnesses or suffered injuries at the workplace were entitled to compensation.
Xulu said a mine worker who had been employed for a five-year period was entitled to a accumulative provident fund amounting to R400,000.
He said his law firm was engaged in the process to assist former miners to make claims against the South African departments of Health and Labour and institute legal action against mining companies.
Xulu said it was crucial for the former mine workers to provide documents that proved their employment history.
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