News

Tshiamiso Trust is pleased to announce that it can now offer Benefit Medical Examinations (BMEs) to eligible ex-mineworkers claiming compensation for silicosis or TB. 7,425 claims have been lodged in Mozambique and 4,514 ex-mineworkers have been awaiting BMEs so that their claims can be processed.

The Tshiamiso Trust was established in 2020 to give effect to the settlement agreement reached between six mining companies and claimant attorneys in the historic silicosis and TB class action. The companies are African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye Stillwater and Gold Fields.

This development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Mozambique to ensure that claimants access the necessary services. The BME services will start in Maputo, conducted by Care Cross, at 197 Avenida das Indistrias, Machava. Dates and locations for the rest of the country will be communicated in due course. 

“The launch of BME services in Mozambique means that claimants can now have the required tests done locally. This is part of our ongoing efforts to provide greater access to the Trust and ensure that eligible claimants can receive the compensation that is due to them,” says Tina da Cruz, Chief Operating Officer at Tshiamiso Trust.

“We are grateful for the support of the Government of Mozambique, and other local partners as we continue to expand and improve our systems and process,” concludes da Cruz.

Current or former mineworkers who have lodged their claims will be contacted to book their appointments for medical examination, if necessary. Those who have not yet lodged a claim are encouraged to do so now, including families of deceased mineworkers. The broad criteria for eligibility to lodge a claim with the Tshiamiso Trust are as follows:

• Carried out risk work at one of the qualifying GOLD mines during the qualifying period between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019 (bearing in mind that some mines changed ownership during that time and are only considered during the periods that they were owned by the participating mining companies) AND
• For living mineworkers they must have permanent lung damage from silicosis or TB that they contracted from doing risk work at these mines
• For deceased mineworkers, there must either be evidence that they died FROM TB within in year of leaving the mine (if it’s a TB claim and the mineworker died before 10 December 2019), OR evidence that they had silicosis or died from silicosis if it’s a silicosis claim.

The result of the BME will determine if the claimants are medically eligible or ineligible, and on that basis, whether they are compensated or not. In the event that a claimant does not agree with the findings, they will have the opportunity to dispute this, and the findings will be reviewed by the Medical Review Panel.

The Tshiamiso Trust can be reached on 00 27 10500 6186. Please note that this is a call back number. Once a call has been initiated and ended, claimants will receive a call back within the next few seconds and the call will be connected to the call centre once answered.

Claimants are reminded to be careful of people impersonating the Trust or promising to help speed up their claims. Only the Tshiamiso Trust can process claims. This is a FREE service. Claimants must only share their documents with the officials at the lodgement offices.