Rand Mutual Assurance Organizes Pensioners’ Lekgotla in Lesotho

Lesotho — Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) has launched its annual Pensioners Lekgotla in Maseru, Lesotho, reaffirming its commitment to honoring the legacy of mineworkers who formed the backbone of South Africa’s mining industry.

At the Lekgotla, RMA engaged directly with disability pensioners and the dependents of those who suffered fatal injuries—such as widows and children—creating a platform that ensures they receive not just financial support but also holistic assistance, providing dignity, medical care access, and opportunities for future generations.

“Our aim is to reach out to our pensioners and continue caring for them long after they retire from mining,” stated Dr. Luvuyo Dzingwa, GM: Medical and Pensions Management at RMA.

“Our pensioners are the foundation of this organization’s heritage.

They worked under challenging conditions, and it is now our responsibility to restore their dignity and improve their livelihoods through initiatives that bring meaningful change to their lives.”

Pensioners at RMA are classified into the following categories:

• Disability pensioners – mineworkers who suffered injuries preventing them from working, regardless of age.
• Dependents – widows and children of deceased mineworkers.

During the Lekgotla, RMA provided a range of services, including a mobile clinic that delivered medical assistance to pensioners.

This encompassed fittings for prosthetics for individuals with disabilities, along with repairs and replacements of wheelchairs and assistive devices at no extra charge.

Pensioners also gained insights into RMA’s enterprise development and income enhancement programs aimed at promoting financial independence and community resilience.

In partnership with Nedbank Lesotho, RMA offered financial literacy training to equip pensioners and their families with essential skills for sustainable resource management.

RMA unveiled new initiatives planned for launch in 2025, including:

• Pension Augmentation, set to start on 22 May 2025, focusing on the first group of beneficiaries.
• Funeral Extension Cover for Basotho pensioners in 2026.
• An internship program for the children of pensioners, aimed at generating job opportunities.

Currently, Lesotho hosts over 2,945 RMA pensioners, with more than 500 already enrolled in the Pensioner Medical Plan (PMP), a program tailored for the most vulnerable, offering essential health-related support.

In the previous financial year, RMA disbursed just over R1 billion, which included bonuses in pension benefits to 15,589 beneficiaries, underscoring its commitment.

“We want our pensioners to feel valued and remembered. This Lekgotla, along with future events, aims to focus on listening, supporting, and ensuring that their sacrifices are continuously honored with care and respect,” Dr. Dzingwa added.

The Maseru Lekgotla signifies the start of a regional outreach initiative, with similar events anticipated across the SADC region.

Through these gatherings, RMA remains dedicated to its mission of offering not only income security but also wellness, skills development, and social upliftment for those who laid the groundwork of the mining sector.