Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
RELIEF is finally on the horizon for hundreds of ex-Wenela workers after years of waiting, as the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is set to sign a crucial Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa’s Tshiamiso Trust tomorrow.
The deal will open the door for payment of long-awaited compensation to Zimbabweans who toiled in South African gold mines decades ago and later suffered from diseases such as silicosis and tuberculosis.
The signing of the agreement was confirmed by the Director for Labour in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Clemence Vusani, during the ministry’s ongoing strategic planning workshop in Bulawayo.
“NSSA will be signing the MoU with Tshiamiso Trust tomorrow. Those with relatives who are suffering from diseases acquired while working under Wenela will be advised where to take them for testing. All details will be shared through various media outlets,” said Mr Vusani.
The agreement will establish a legal framework for Tshiamiso Trust to manage claims, conduct medical assessments, and disburse payments to eligible ex-mineworkers and their dependants.
At least 1 000 Zimbabweans who worked in South Africa’s gold mines between the 1960s and 1980s under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) are set to benefit from the compensation scheme for silicosis and tuberculosis contracted while on duty.
Eligible workers will receive payments ranging from R10 000 to R500 000, depending on the severity of their condition and terms of the settlement.
The programme covers former employees of major mining companies such as African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, and Sibanye-Stillwater.
Workers who carried out risky duties between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019, and were diagnosed with silicosis before December 2021 or contracted tuberculosis during or within a year of leaving employment, qualify for the payouts.
Established in 2020 after a landmark class action lawsuit in South Africa’s High Court, the Tshiamiso Trust has already paid out over R1 billion to more than 11 000 claimants across Southern Africa, including Malawi — underlining the historic scale of the compensation drive.
