65 ex- miners receive terminal benefits

Ministry of Labour says only 65 out of the 47 000 ex-miners seeking compensation from the South African Government have accessed their terminal benefits.

Minister of Labour Agnes NyaLonje told Parliament on Friday that names of 61 other ex-miners have been pended for lack of other information.

The minister was responding to a question by Machinga North East legislator Ajilu Kalitendere, who said the delays to pay the group has worsened their plight.

Said NyaLonje: “The difficulty that we are facing as a ministry in trying to assist ex- miners to access their benefits in South Africa is multi-faceted. Firstly, the names that are on the list, when we try to follow up, often you find that not all these names were contributing to the voluntary pension funds, so people contributed by choice, so not everyone who worked in the mines contributed,

“Secondly, not every mining company in South Africa subscribed to the pension fund that was set up, so even if we push the records will not be found if the individual never contributed.”

Mzimba South parliamentarian Emmanuel  Chambulanyina Jere faulted government for not giving timely updates to the ex-miners on pension, saying by keeping quiet the group feels sidelined.