R2-BILLION IN PAYMENTS TO SILICOSIS AND TB BENEFICIARIES APPLAUDED
• AFRICAN BUZZ
Image by Freepik discuss changes to the legislation as well as new occupations and trade testing within the HERVAC environment. Whilst the final day will delve into innovation and refrigerant trends.
Topics include the National Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment’ s( DFFE) Margaret Molefe talking on South Africa’ s progress and obligations to the phase out and phase down of global warming substances and the impact on the industry; GM of Energy Partners Refrigeration Dawie Kriel will share on game changing case studies and success stories in the growing field of Cooling-as-a-Service; Tobias Fuhrer, head of Center of Expertise Commercial Refrigeration will speak about refrigerant trends and innovations; and SAIRAC VP Gordon Banks will discuss the National Trade Test and the phasing out of legacy trades and the new trade test against occupations.
This is an event for all those looking for the best in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and energy products and services, including engineers, architects, technicians, designers, contractors, procurement managers, property developers, energy and environmental agencies.
More details and visitor registration are available at: www. frigairexpo. co. za
Source: supplied by Frigair Exhibition 2025
R2-BILLION IN PAYMENTS TO SILICOSIS AND TB BENEFICIARIES APPLAUDED
The Occupational Lung Disease Working Group – comprising the six companies party to the silicosis and tuberculosis( TB) class action settlement of 2018 – reported that it was pleased to hear the announcement by the Tshiamiso Trust that payments of benefits to former and current miners and, where deceased, their dependents, have now surpassed the R2-billion mark.
The Tshiamiso Trust was established to implement the terms of the class action settlement reached between African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater( collectively referred to as the Founders) and the claimants in the silicosis and TB class action. The Trust is responsible for the implementation and administration of the class action settlement agreement, thereby ensuring that all eligible current and former mineworkers of the Founders with Silicosis or work-related
TB( or their dependents) are compensated in accordance with the class action settlement agreement.
The Working Group said,“ We believe that the ongoing implementation of this settlement agreement stands as a powerful testament to the value of a cooperative, constructive and solutionsdriven approach – demonstrating that even challenges once thought insurmountable can be successfully overcome.
“ We also want to draw attention to the remarkable efforts by various stakeholders outside the settling parties that have played critical roles to enable payments to have reached the current levels and beyond. These include the Tshiamiso Trust itself, the Compensation Commissioner for Occupational Diseases and the Minerals Council South Africa.
Firstly, the Commissioner has fully cooperated with the Trust and has taken all legal steps required to grant the Trust access to the records maintained by the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases( MBOD), which administers the statutory compensation fund for occupational lung diseases. These records, comprising medical reports, service histories and other critical information, are essential for the proper administration of claims under the Trust. Without this access, many Trust certifications may not have been possible or would have been significantly compromised.
“ Secondly, the Minerals Council has funded the digitisation of MBOD files over several years, which has made this information sharing possible.
“ Thirdly, the Trust has been efficient in identifying and reaching claimants who might otherwise have remained unaware of their entitlements under the Trust Deed. It has conducted benefit medical examinations, digitised claimant records and made its updated database available to the MBOD to streamline the payment of statutory compensation. A significant proportion of Trust claimants had never previously submitted claims for MBOD compensation. By ensuring that the necessary medical examinations are conducted and that the updated database is made available to the MBOD, these claimants can now pursue the MBOD compensation they are entitled to, in addition to their Trust benefits.
This is a remarkable achievement, and these parties deserve immense recognition for their efforts.
The Working Group continues to collaborate closely with the Trust and other stakeholders to ensure that as many eligible claimants as possible ultimately receive the benefits to which they are entitled. In this regard, the Founders have remained actively engaged in discussions with the Trust to promote a consistent interpretation of the Trust Deed and to facilitate its smooth implementation. Where necessary, they have worked to clarify its provisions to uphold its intended objectives. Some of these discussions have led to amendments to the Trust Deed, including the following:
• claimants now have 120 days( instead of the original 30 days) to lodge disputes with the Trust regarding notices of ineligibility of their claims;
• the period for lung function testing to assess the impairment caused by TB has been extended from 18 calendar months to 24 calendar months following the completion of treatment;
6 • African Mining • May 2025 www. africanmining. co. za