About 471 former miners from Botswana have received a total of P37.8 million ($2.7m) in compensation for occupational lung diseases contracted while working in South African mines, with thousands more awaiting assistance.
Over 3000 former miners from Botswana have been diagnosed with occupational lung diseases at the Boswelakoko clinic in Molepolole, with 471 of them receiving compensation totaling P37.8 million. This was revealed by Labour and Home Affairs Minister Annah Mokgethi in response to a Parliamentary question from MP Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang.
The ex-miners are part of thousands of Batswana who worked in South African mines between the 1950s and 2000s. Minister Mokgethi confirmed that her office continues to receive enquiries from ex-miners seeking assistance to access compensation for injuries, occupational diseases, and related matters from their previous employment in South African mines.
Mokgethi said:‘’My ministry has taken the responsibility to facilitate initiatives that would assist all the issues related to payment or compensation to ex-Botswana mineworkers from the South African mines.”
She added:“To realise this initiative, a Task Force consisting of representatives from the civil society and Government has been formed to draft a framework through which these issues can be effectively addressed,”.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed between the Governments of Botswana and South Africa towards addressing the issue, with plans to bring in the Tshiamiso Trust and their medical team to work with Botswana’s medical teams once the implementation plan and necessary protocols have been completed.
The six gold mining companies involved in the settlement agreement are African Rainbow minerals, Anglo America SA, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, and Sibanye Stillwater.
