Maputo – A windfall awaits thousands of Mozambican former miners who toiled in South Africa’s unforgiving mines. The government announced this week that over 3,000 ex-miners from the southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza, and Inhambane are set to receive long-overdue pensions.
The initiative, a joint effort between Mozambique and the South African Mineworkers Provident Fund, aims to distribute a staggering R285 million (€14.5 million) to eligible beneficiaries. These funds represent unclaimed benefits accrued from 1989 to 2023 by miners who worked in the platinum, coal, and gold sectors.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Emídio Mavila, said the campaign to identify and disburse the pensions is in full swing, with a deadline of July 20. To claim their rightful dues, former miners must present a valid ID, worker identification card, payment receipt, or TEBA contract, along with their bank account details.
The government has set up dedicated stations for miners to verify their eligibility and has also enlisted the help of community radio stations to spread the word.
This much-needed financial lifeline comes as a beacon of hope for many Mozambican families who have endured hardship due to the perilous conditions faced by their loved ones in the mines.
