A former Welkom gold miner, haunted by the silicosis-related deaths of co-workers, travels the province to find and help miners suffering from the disease.
Moses Mohapi has registered more than 5000 ex-miners but said thousands more still did not know they qualified for compensation.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Mohapi said: “I need no publicity as my heart is with the people who have suffered in mines because of the silicosis.
“I’ve lost friends, close friends, who worked in the mines and what I am doing is to assist those who are in rural villages to know about their rights.”
Last year he registered a non-profit organisation, Jongisizwe Ex-miners.
He said he has travelled the province and has been touched by the suffering many former miners have found themselves in.
“Their situation is so painful in that they are being ignored by the same mines they used to work in.
“I need no money from these people.
“All I do is to reach out to them and maybe someone will join me to fight this battle.”
Last week, Anglo American South Africa and AngloGold Ashanti reached an agreement to compensate for nearly 4400 silicosis-related claims brought against the companies for a total R464-million.
The money will be put in an independent trust which will distribute it.
Zanele Mbuyisa of Mbuyisa Leane Attorneys, representing 4365 claimants, sued the South African arm of Anglo American and former subsidiary AngloGold for dust-related lung illnesses, including silicosis and silico-tuberculosis, contracted while working on the companies mines.
Mbuyisa told the Dispatch last week that only 50% of the former miners will be compensated. This means thousands of others who were not registered will get nothing.
Anglo American made it clear last week that the settlement was not related to the pending class action certification application that is currently before the courts.
The court is still to determine whether or not a class action law suit is the appropriate way to hear this action.. AngloGold Ashanti chief executive officer Srinivasan Venkat said they believe that agreeing settlement terms was in the best interests of all stakeholders.
“Both companies and the plaintiffs have a common interest in settling this highly-complex case that could take several years to resolve through litigation,” said Venkat.
But Mohapi said the payment was too little as many more miners have not been identified.
“There’s still a long way to go as we want to get to the families of those ex-miners who have since died. My aim is to help restore their dignity by getting what is due to them,” said Mohapi. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Ex-miner on an outreach to help silicosis sufferers
Moses Mohapi has registered more than 5000 ex-miners but said thousands more still did not know they qualified for compensation.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Mohapi said: “I need no publicity as my heart is with the people who have suffered in mines because of the silicosis.
“I’ve lost friends, close friends, who worked in the mines and what I am doing is to assist those who are in rural villages to know about their rights.”
Last year he registered a non-profit organisation, Jongisizwe Ex-miners.
He said he has travelled the province and has been touched by the suffering many former miners have found themselves in.
“Their situation is so painful in that they are being ignored by the same mines they used to work in.
“I need no money from these people.
“All I do is to reach out to them and maybe someone will join me to fight this battle.”
Last week, Anglo American South Africa and AngloGold Ashanti reached an agreement to compensate for nearly 4400 silicosis-related claims brought against the companies for a total R464-million.
The money will be put in an independent trust which will distribute it.
Zanele Mbuyisa of Mbuyisa Leane Attorneys, representing 4365 claimants, sued the South African arm of Anglo American and former subsidiary AngloGold for dust-related lung illnesses, including silicosis and silico-tuberculosis, contracted while working on the companies mines.
Mbuyisa told the Dispatch last week that only 50% of the former miners will be compensated. This means thousands of others who were not registered will get nothing.
Anglo American made it clear last week that the settlement was not related to the pending class action certification application that is currently before the courts.
The court is still to determine whether or not a class action law suit is the appropriate way to hear this action.. AngloGold Ashanti chief executive officer Srinivasan Venkat said they believe that agreeing settlement terms was in the best interests of all stakeholders.
“Both companies and the plaintiffs have a common interest in settling this highly-complex case that could take several years to resolve through litigation,” said Venkat.
But Mohapi said the payment was too little as many more miners have not been identified.
“There’s still a long way to go as we want to get to the families of those ex-miners who have since died. My aim is to help restore their dignity by getting what is due to them,” said Mohapi. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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