FORMER Basotho miners who contracted Silicosis and other respiratory illness in the South African gold mines will finally get compensated, the Lesotho Ex-Miners Association has announced.

The Secretary General of the association, Rantsie Mantsi told a press briefing in Maseru on Friday that the intervention of the Tshiamo Trust brought hope to their initiatives.

The association, he said is working with a medical company, Global Med Health Care to establish the health history of the former miners.
“The involvement of the Trust fund which will lead to the compensation of Basotho ex-miners found with the respiratory condition is going to play a major role in changing the lives of the beneficiaries, especially now when the country faces high rates of unemployment,” Mr Mantsi said.
A member of the association who is based in South Africa, Jabu Xaba said they will not rest until all the Basotho eligible for compensation get paid.

“It will be much easier for Basotho to get what is due to them if the government of Lesotho could get involved in the matter,” Mr Xaba said.