Mineworkers hit BCL with P770m claim

Creditors of the former copper and nickel mining giant met for the first time on Monday in Gaborone, where the liquidator, Nigel Dixon-Warren updated them on, amongst others, the process to be followed after filing and proving claims.

BCL’s closure in October last year caught many of its creditors by surprise, particularly - as some revealed yesterday - government had issued a comfort letter in December 2015 giving assurance that the mine will not close. BMWU president, Jack Tlhagale told Mmegi that the union had submitted its claim on behalf of former workers. He said the claim was based on the retrenchment agreement the union had with BCL, which provided the formula of how to pay workers in the event of the mine’s closure.