EC GOVERNMENT EMBARKS ON A PROVINCIAL EX-MINE WORKERS OUTREACH

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government in partnership with the National Departments of Health, Employment and Labour as well as Minerals and Energy will, from 18 to 21 April 2023, embark on the Provincial Ex-Mine Workers Outreach programme in the OR Tambo and Chris Hani District Municipalities.

The aim of the outreach is to provide ex-miners with a one – stop shop service to claim for their unresolved benefits.

The programme will include the screening, verification, medical examination and payment of benefits to eligible former mine workers who have contracted Tuberculosis (TB) or Silicosis diseases while working at various mines in the country between March 1965 and October 2019.

The outreach is implemented with various mining industry stakeholders to enable eligible former mine workers or their beneficiaries to submit claims for compensation.

The claimants are advised to bring all relevant documents, such as a valid South African ID, employment card and service record from the former employer, available medical records, death certificate in a case of the deceased and an autopsy report if available.

The outreach will kick-off at Ngqeleni on the 18th of April and move to Libode on the 19th, in the OR Tambo District Municipality. It will conclude at eNgcobo on the 20th to 21st April 2023, in the Chris Hani District Municipality.

The programme is a multi-sectoral and coordinated approach between government, the mining industry and other stakeholders, which seeks to address challenges faced by Ex-Mine workers in the province including their compensation.

It is championed by the Office of the Premier in conjunction with the Provincial Department of Health, the National Department of Health, and Ex-mineworkers Council. Other stakeholders include Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD), Departments of Home Affairs, Labour and Employment, U-Bank, Tshiamiso Trust.

Details of the outreach are as follows: