JFM disassociates itself from Court Action

JFM disassociates itself from Court Action broughtagainst Tshiamiso Trust, Miners Provident Fund and Government of Lesotho andcondemns widely circulating voice note that connects JFM Campaign activists toarguments reflected in the Court Action.

In terms of the 5 billion Rand out of court silicosisand TB settlement reached

between lawyers of ex-gold miners and South Africa’slargest gold producers the

Tshiamiso Trust is responsible for processingcompensation claims by ex-miners.

and dependents of deceased ex-miners who have beenmade chronically ill by gold mining.

JFM notes with concern that a court interdict wasbrought last week in the High Court of Maseru against the Tshiamiso Trust, theMiner Provident Fund and the Government of Lesotho. JFM wishes to place onrecord that the individuals and organizations who launched this action are notmembers of the Justice for Miners Campaign.

JFM further rejects and condemns as defamatory a widelycirculating WhatsApp voice note in which a seSotho speaker with a South Africanaccent makes a number of untrue statements about who can claim compensationunder the out of court settlement that led to the formation of the TshiamisoTrust and about the grounds on which compensation can be claimed. JFM condemns andrejects this communication in the strongest terms as it falsely implicates theprominent JFM activist Janet Kahn and the JFM Medical Advisor, Dr Rhett Kahn,in these claims.

While the Justice for Miners Campaign (JFM) seeks Justand Speedy Compensation for ex-gold miners and while the JFM Campaign has inthe past and present noted serious failings on the part of the Tshiamiso Trustin the execution of its mandate we do not support the false and irresponsibleviews expressed by the voice note and implicit in the current court actionagainst the Trust, the MPF and the Government of Lesotho.

The Lesotho Chapter of the Justice for Miners Campaignand the entire regional JFM Campaign has over the past 2 and a half yearsconsistently communicated the serious issues faced by claimants to the Trustand the Government of Lesotho. Further JFM continues to call on the Trust tohear its demands for serious dialogue to resolve the many issues that continueto rob ex-gold miners and their dependents of their compensation rights.

Issued by:

Lesotho Chapter of the Justice for Miners Campaign

Justice for Miners Campaign, Southern Africa

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