GOVERNMENT has created a database of thousands of Zimbabweans, who used to work in South African mines, as it engages that country’s government to release their pensions.
Source: Govt creates database for former Wenela workers – NewsDay Zimbabwe December 5, 2016
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Thousands of Zimbabweans migrated to South Africa in the 1970s to work in the mines, but their pensions are yet to be released by the mining companies.
Social Welfare deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze said the government is in the final stages of engagement with their South African counterparts to facilitate the transfer of the pensions and other benefits to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA)
“Some lawyers in South Africa and a company comprising of Zimbabwean professionals have made efforts to engage the government of each respective country to get a mandate to represent the workers,” he said.
“On our part, we have engaged the professionals and established that there are about 15 containers of documentation relating to the ex-miners and their families,” he told legislators in Parliament on Thursday.
Matangaidze was responding to a question from Kallisto Gwanetsa on what the ministry was doing to assist the former mine workers to access their terminal benefits.
“A database has been created. We are in the final stages of the engagement with the South Africa-based professionals, who will facilitate the transfer of the pension fund and other benefits owed by the South African government. The Finance and Economic Development ministry and ours are involved.
“My ministry and, indeed, government is keen to see the successful transfer of this fund from South Africa to NSSA,” he said.
Early this year, the SA Mines 1970 Pension and Provident Funds office released a statement calling on ex-Wenela workers to contact it to access their terminal benefits.
In a notice, the Mines 1970 Pension and Provident Funds said “the trustees of the Mines 1970 Pension and Provident Funds are looking for former members (mineworkers) who worked in the South African mining industry during the years 1970 to 1980 and who may be entitled to unclaimed benefits.
“It you worked in the South African mining industry during this period and believe that you may be entitled to claim any unpaid benefits you are asked to contact the fund administration (Alexander Forbes) in South Africa to establish whether or not any unclaimed benefits are due to you or to the beneficiaries of any former member that had died.”
COMMENTS
The truth of the matter is that the ZANU PF government wants to establish a levy to belatedly siphon/extort the ex-workers past renumerations for its benefit!!!!
ummm NASSA!!!!!! ok its a ‘wait’ and ‘see’ scenario.
What happens to the multitude of beneficiaries whose fathers have since passed on? I would suggest that NSSA obtain the names of all Zimbabweans who worked under the WENELA auspices and trace back to the surviving familiy members who can then be paid lump sums in respect of their dead benefectors.
Once the money is paid to NSSA, it will be stolen by ZanuPF and the NSSA bigwigs, and no beneficiary will ever see that money. I wonder how they have worked out the depreciated value of these pensions. I would think that the majority of these workers have passed on, since wenela closed down nearly 40 years ago. That would be a gift to the bigwigs – they will claim the pensions in a ghost workers scheme. CHINAmasa, Zimra and ZanuPF must be really desperate for money if they are going that far back looking for money. Why not go back 20 years and pay compensation to the Gukuruhundi victims?
Truth of the matter is bona fide beneficiaries are not even aware of this Database being referred? So, who really is in this so-called Database which has been clandestinely created? Surely, Homo Erectus can not be faulted to state that the money, if ever is going to come, will certainly be stolen by ZANU PF bigwigs. We still know how they looted/stole the War Veterans’ Compensation Fund. In many cases claiming over 100% war injuries, which none of these thieves have bothered to explain what it means for one to be said to have suffered 122% injury. To most of us 100% injury means death; so what does 120% injury mean?
Anyway, we are dealing with vultures in the name of Mugabe & his cronies. For sure, bona fide beneficiaries will get nothing. We know very well that the beneficiaries will certainly include the Ballermines Chatungas, the Wicknell Chivayo, the Simba Chikowores, etc. So, who is the arch-thief in Zim?????
Nhaimiwe I went to claim for my pension from NASSA when turned 55 years and I was turned away being told to come back when I I was turn 60 .I was then told pension was only being paid to tho who had turned 55 and worked hard labour in mines – farms truck drivers and not even as a mechanic or auto electrician on heavy duty trucks how does that work ? So how are you going about with Wenela ? Baba Mugabe please pindirai zvenyu ikozvino nditori nesamon re school fees Asian mari yangu irikuNASSA Tibatsireiwo ikozvino ndava me 57:years .Ukasvika kuNASSA kunyadziswa badzi
My father worked at wenela and he has since passed in.we as his children we know nothing about this initiative.zanu is just desperate for money they will never pass this to the beneficiaries.not zanu.SA must keeo this money and demand the beneficuaries to cime claum. It.
My Farther is making a follow up on his Benefits