Lesotho — Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) has launched its annual Pensioners Lekgotla in Maseru, Lesotho, reaffirming its commitment to honouring the legacy of mineworkers who built the backbone of South Africa’s mining industry.
At the Lekgotla, RMA was able to connect directly with disability pensioners and dependants in cases of fatal injuries — such as widows and children — to provide a platform that ensures they are not only cared for financially but are also supported comprehensively — with dignity, access to medical services, and opportunities for their future generation.
“It’s all about going to where our pensioners are and continuing to care for them long after they’ve left mining, said Dr. Luvuyo Dzingwa, GM: Medical and Pensions Management, RMA.
“Our pensioners are the backbone of this organisation’s history.
They worked under challenging conditions, and now it is our responsibility to restore dignity and improve livelihoods through initiatives that make a tangible difference in their lives.”
At RMA, pensioners fall into the following categories:
- Disability pensioners – mineworkers who suffered injuries that prevent them from working, regardless of age.
- Dependents – widows and children of mineworkers who lost their lives.
During the Lekgotla, RMA offered a range of services, including a mobile clinic providing medical care to pensioners.
This also included prosthetic fittings for differently abled individuals, wheelchair repairs and replacements, and the provision of assistive devices at no extra cost.
Pensioners also received information on RMA’s enterprise development and income upliftment initiatives, designed to promote financial independence and community resilience.
In partnership with Nedbank Lesotho, RMA delivered financial literacy training to equip pensioners and their families with the tools to manage resources sustainably.
RMA also announced new initiatives set to launch in 2025, including:
- Pension Augmentation, scheduled to launch on 22 May 2025, targeting the first group of beneficiaries.
- Funeral Extension Cover for Basotho pensioners, for 2026.
- An internship programme for pensioners’ children, to open pathways into the workplace.
Currently, Lesotho is home to more than 2 945 RMA pensioners, with over 500 already enrolled in the Pensioner Medical Plan (PMP), a programme designed for the most vulnerable, providing vital health-related support.
In the past financial year, RMA disbursed just over R1 billion, including bonuses in pension benefits to 15,589 beneficiaries, underscoring the scale of its commitment.
“We want our pensioners to know that they are not forgotten. This Lekgotla and the ones to follow are all about listening, supporting, and ensuring that the sacrifices they made continue to be honoured with care and respect,” added Dr. Dzingwa.
The Maseru Lekgotla marks the beginning of a regional outreach campaign, with similar sessions planned across the SADC region.
Through these gatherings, RMA continues to uphold its mission to provide not only income security, but also wellness, skill development, and social upliftment for those who laid the foundation of the mining sector.
