Staff Reporter
...as ex-Wenela workers register for compensation
Government has warned the public against bogus and criminal individuals who are misrepresenting themselves as Government officials, demanding payment for the registration of ex-Wenela mine workers.
Zimbabweans who contracted respiratory diseases while working in South Africa’s gold mines during the 1960s, under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) are currently being registered so that they get compensated and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare together with the NSSA are spearheading the programme.
In a Press Statement yesterday, the Ministry emphasised that the registration exercise is being done for free and urged members to report bogus and criminal elements to the Police.
“The Ministry would like to inform the members of the general public that it has not engaged any individuals or agencies for registration and testing of ex-Wenela mine workers. For the avoidance of doubt, the registration and testing of the former mine workers is being undertaken free of charge by the Government and NSSA. The officials will have positive identification at venues on dates to be announced through the media,” reads part of the statement
The Ministry highlighted that the mobile registration and testing of the former Wenela workers is being done in phases in all the country’s ten Provinces.
The registration exercise started on May 31, 2021 in Bulawayo where more than 400 prospective beneficiaries have been tested so far.
The former workers are expected to receive compensation worth R10 000 to R500 000. Zimbabwe and South Africa have since activated an agreement made under the two countries’ Bi-National Commission to establish a joint Taskforce to facilitate payment of the compensation. Beneficiaries of the payment are obliged to be tested for the respiratory disease.
In 2019 the Johannesburg High Court ruled that workers who contracted either Silicosis or Tuberculosis will get compensated upon receiving diagnosis. About 10 000 ex-Wenela workers are expected to get the funds.
