The Tshiamiso Trust has officially distributed R2.7-billion in compensation to former mineworkers and the families of deceased employees suffering from occupational lung diseases. Since its inception in 2020, the trust has successfully processed and finalised payments for more than 20,000 claimants across South Africa and in neighbouring countries.
Trust Operations And Legal Background
The Tshiamiso Trust was established as a direct result of a landmark 2019 High Court settlement in Johannesburg, which concluded years of class-action litigation against six major mining entities. The participating companies included African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, and Sibanye-Stillwater.
The achievement of this milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Tshiamiso Trust team, our service providers and our partners, said Lusani Mulaudzi, CEO of the Tshiamiso Trust.
Addressing Occupational Health Legacies
For decades, mineworkers faced significant exposure to silica dust in gold mines, resulting in high rates of chronic conditions such as silicosis and tuberculosis. The trust is tasked with the complex process of tracing eligible former workers, coordinating medical examinations, and distributing settlement funds to those identified as meeting the compensation criteria. This non-profit entity continues to coordinate efforts across South Africa, Lesotho, and Mozambique to reach communities historically affected by the mining industry’s safety failures.
The trust is expected to continue its outreach and evaluation programmes to identify remaining eligible claimants and facilitate further disbursements in the coming financial periods.