MASERU-In a renewed push to bring long-overdue justice and compensation to former gold mineworkers, the Tshiamiso Trust has officially launched a nationwide outreach campaign in Lesotho. The initiative, running from July through August 2025, is expected to directly benefit thousands of Basotho who contracted silicosis or work-related tuberculosis (TB) while working in South Africa’s gold mines between 1965 and 2019.
The campaign was formally unveiled in Maseru by the CEO of Tshiamiso Trust, Dr. Munyadziwa Kwinda, who emphasized the critical importance of reaching claimants in their own communities. “This campaign is not just about paperwork, it is about restoring dignity and delivering justice to people who risked their health and lives for a livelihood,” he said.
The outreach will bring on-site claim lodgment services and Benefit Medical Examinations (BMEs) directly to former mineworkers across Lesotho. These BMEs are a vital step in the claims process, ensuring that those affected receive the compensation they are entitled to base on medical assessments. According to Dr. Kwinda, 2,647 Basotho claimants are still awaiting BMEs, highlighting the urgency and necessity of the campaign.
Beyond BMEs, the outreach teams will also assist new claimants in filing applications and help existing applicants update missing or incomplete documentation that might be delaying their payments.
The Tshiamiso Trust was established following a historic class action lawsuit against six major South African gold mining companies. The settlement paved the way for a dedicated fund to compensate former mineworkers and their dependents who suffered from occupational diseases linked to silica dust exposure underground.
The companies involved in the settlement include African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold and Sibanye-Stillwater. These corporations have committed to addressing the legacy of ill health left by decades of mining practices that often prioritized profits over safety.
Lesotho, whose citizens have long formed a significant part of the South African mining labor force, has emerged as the leading beneficiary of the compensation effort. Since February 2021, when claims processing began in the country, more than M836 million has been paid out to Basotho mineworkers and their families, representing an impressive 40% of the total M2.2 billion disbursed across seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
“This figure reflects both the deep impact of the mining industry on Basotho families and the importance of ensuring that every qualifying individual receives their due,” Dr. Kwinda noted.
The Trust’s outreach teams will travel across the country over the coming weeks, visiting key locations to provide support on the ground. The full schedule is as follows, Butha-Buthe – July 21–22, Leribe – July 23–24, Teya-Teyaneng – July 25–26, Maseru – July 28–31, Mafeteng – August 1–2 & 4–7, Mohale’s Hoek – August 8–9, Quthing – August 11–12.
The Trust is urging all eligible former mineworkers, or their dependents, who have not yet lodged a claim or completed their BME to attend the outreach in their district. With the window for claims processing not open indefinitely, time is of the essence.
“This is your opportunity,” Dr. Kwinda stressed. “We are coming to you to make sure no one is left behind.”
