The concerns were raised during a meeting with the Minister for State President, Justice and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, and the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware, held in Francistown on Monday.

The workers told the ministers that years of waiting had taken a toll on their livelihoods, with some struggling to service bank loans they had expected to settle using their compensation.

“The task team was sent to ask us how we would like to be paid. That brought hope to us and we expected to be paid. But now we have to wait for the liquidation process which we don’t even know when it will be completed,” said one visibly distressed Masego Lentetse.

Another worker appealed to government to at least engage the banks on their behalf. “We were thinking of paying our debts with the compensation. Now interest keeps piling and we are stuck,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Mohwasa said government’s hands are tied until the liquidation process  was completed, as compensation funds would only be realised from the sale of the mine’s assets and apologised to the ex-workers for the delay in engaging them directly. 

“Due to the liquidation process, government cannot make any decision regarding compensation at this stage. Government will only be able to compensate you once the liquidation process is completed, because that is where the money for compensation will come from,” Mr Mohwasa explained.

He assured the workers that government acknowledged their plight and is monitoring the process closely.

For his part, Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware, said government had taken steps to prevent a repeat of the Tati Nickel and BCL situations.

He announced that a new law on liquidation commenced at the beginning of September 2026 is now in the offing, and it prioritises employees during liquidation.

Under the previous law, employees were paid last after all other creditors.

“As it was previously, the liquidation process was that employees got paid last after everything else was paid. But the current law is that during the liquidation process employees must be paid first,” Minister Mokgware said.

He added that the amendment was specifically informed by experiences of both BCL and Tati Nickel ex-workers to ensure that workers were not left vulnerable in future company closures.

Minister Mokgware therefore urged the ex-workers to remain patient while the legal process runs its course, noting that government remained committed to their welfare.

Both ministers emphasised that, in this current case, the liquidator has full legal mandate over the process and government cannot interfere.

The BCL/Tati Nickel Mine was placed under liquidation years ago following financial challenges, leaving hundreds of former employees unemployed and awaiting compensation. ENDS