NSSA Partners with Tshiamiso Trust to Compensate Former Wenela Mine Workers

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Tshiamiso Trust to facilitate compensation for former Wenela mine workers who developed permanent disabilities from silicosis or work-related tuberculosis (TB), or for the families of those who died as a result.

This partnership stems from a landmark ruling by the South African High Court, which approved a settlement agreement between six major mining companies and lawyers representing thousands of affected miners in a historic class action case.

The companies involved in the settlement include Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Sibanye Stillwater, Harmony Gold, and African Rainbow Minerals.

The Tshiamiso Trust was established to manage and process compensation for all eligible former gold mine workers or their dependents across southern Africa.

This includes miners from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zambia who were employed in South Africa’s gold mines between March 1965 and December 2019.

Thousands of Zimbabwean ex-miners who worked under the Wenela (Witwatersrand Native Labour Association) system will now have the opportunity to undergo medical evaluations to assess their eligibility for a once-off payment.

Speaking during the signing ceremony and launch of the compensation programme, Tshiamiso Trust Chief Executive Officer Dr. Munyadziwa Kwinda said the initiative represents a major step toward justice and dignity for former mine workers.

“The collaboration between Tshiamiso Trust and NSSA ensures that eligible former miners and their families can now access compensation for lung diseases such as silicosis and work-related TB contracted while working in South African gold mines,”
said Dr. Kwinda.

“Our goal is to reach every qualifying claimant across Zimbabwe and to honour the contribution of those who helped build the mining industry.”

NSSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Charles Shava emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in protecting workers’ rights.

“Many Zimbabweans spent decades working in South Africa’s mines and returned home with illnesses that drastically changed their lives.

Through this partnership, we’re ensuring that those individuals or their families finally receive the compensation they deserve. NSSA remains committed to strengthening social security and cross-border protection for all workers in the region,” he said.

To qualify for compensation, claimants must have performed high-risk work at one of the listed gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019 and must have been diagnosed with silicosis or TB linked to their mining employment.

Those who worked for more than five years in risky conditions will receive a free Benefit Medical Examination, while those with shorter service will pay R1,900  an amount reimbursed if their claim is approved.

For deceased miners, claimants must provide evidence showing that the cause of death was related to work-induced TB or silicosis.