Health Ministry says more than R230 million paid to ex-mineworkers
The Deputy Minister of Health, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, says more than R230 million has been paid to former mineworkers injured or who contracted respiratory-related illnesses on duty.
This forms part of a government programme that seeks to track, trace, and provide compensation, pension and provident funds to eligible ex-mineworkers who worked in the mines from 1965 to 2019.
Dhlomo said at least 20 thousand former mineworkers have been reached through this program.
On Tuesday, the deputy minister led an outreach program which oversees the compensation of ex-miners at the Westvaal Hospital in North West.
“There are former mine workers who must be examined medically and confirm that they actually did suffer Silicosis or TB. Some of them will also be compensated by the Employment and Labour Department because of other injuries, including pensions. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy must also be able to monitor the progress,” said Dhlomo.
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