TimesLIVE reports that the Tshiamiso Trust has disbursed R1.5bn to eligible silicosis and TB claimants since it began processing claims in 2021.

Describing this as a significant milestone, the trust said it represented payments for 16,417 eligible claims, and an additional R500m over the R1bn the trust announced it had paid in February 2023. The trust was established to give effect to the settlement agreement reached between six mining companies and claimant attorneys in an historic silicosis and TB class action. The companies are African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye-Stillwater and Gold Fields. The trust is responsible for compensating all eligible current and former mineworkers across Southern Africa with permanent impairment due to silicosis or work-related TB, or their dependents where the mineworker has died. The highest concentration of payments has been 44% in Lesotho, followed by the Eastern Cape at 28%. The trust said it expanded its services to help claimants by setting up benefit medical examinations (BMEs) across Eswatini and Mozambique, with Botswana scheduled as the next focus area. Discussions are under way to enable expansion of services to Zimbabwe and Malawi.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE

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