Free State: Ex- Mineworkers were the backbone of our economy and the hope of families, said Premie of the Free State Dukwana Mxolisi.
The Compensation Fund Outreach Programme on Mineworkers is informed by the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) promulgated in 1993, and the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (ODMWA) last amended in 1994 provides compensation for occupational lung diseases in miners and ex-miners only.
Lack of awareness coupled with a number of challenges has formed a serious impediment that has disadvantaged and frustrated many potential mineworker’s compensation beneficiaries, in turn rendering the claims process ineffective and inefficient.
These plethoras of challenges have resulted in a whooping over One (1) billion rand in unclaimed pensions, provident funds and compensation monies that are sitting dormant and waiting for rightful miners and former miners to lay claim to them.
It is against this background that President Cyril Ramaphosa commissioned the tripartite alliance of the Ministries of Health, Labour and Mineral Resources to undertake outreach programmes with the fundamental objectives of tracking, identifying, screening and processing miners and former mineworkers within the SADC region to ensure that they qualifying individuals are duly compensated for health deteriorations suffered due to their labour in the mines and also to ensure that unclaimed pensions are accordingly released to their rightful owners and their families.
On 27 September 2023, Free State Premier Mxolosi Dukwana, together with Deputy Minister for Health Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, formed part of the ongoing COIDA Act outreach programme that was held at RMA SUB-Acute Rehabilitation Hospital in Welkom, Matjhabeng.
RMA is a health facility that provides medical health care to miners and former miners who suffered injuries from working in the mines.
The three (3) day programme that is scheduled to run from 27 – 29 September 2023 has already processed over three thousand (3000) former mineworkers, with 1200 identified as potential beneficiaries.
Potential beneficiaries are taken through a health screening and testing process to determine their state of health, particularly in relation to physical injuries or disabilities and occupational diseases such as lung diseases and hearing impairments that were caused by working the mines.
Premier Dukwana Mxolisi addressed mineworkers who had been patiently waiting at RMA Rehabilitation Hospital:
“Government says,” said Premier Dukwana, “Although we cannot restore your health, you must be compensated for deteriorating health and injuries you suffered for shouldering our economy at every difficult time. You were really the backbone of this economy. It is for this reason we are working hand in glove with mining companies such as Sibanye, Harmony, the banking sector and many others to ensure that you are duly compensated without any hustles. However, we implore you to use your money wisely after receiving them.
He added that “The government wants to change your life for the better. Therefore, it is important to manage your finances wisely so that your money does not evaporate into thin air because of irresponsible spending and financial mismanagement. Indeed we cannot say thank you enough but this is our way of showing our deepest gratitude for your service to our country. You gave life to many millions of our people and we are eternally grateful”
There will be a series of such mineworkers outreach programmes in the Free State in an attempt to reach potential beneficiaries. Another will follow the Matjhabeng Compensation Fund outreach Programme on Mineworkers in in QwaQwa, Thabo Mofutsanyana district.