By MICHELLE GUMEDE
A total of R30-billion lies unclaimed from the pension and provident funds of former miners who worked under apartheid but never received their money, according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
At the Smart Investments in Health conference in Johannesburg Motsoaledi told international health experts and delegates from about 10 Southern African Development Community countries, including some from mining companies and trade unions, that the payment mechanisms for mining compensation and pension fund distribution had proved inefficient and better systems were needed to standardise processes.
The SA mining sector has relied on migrant labour from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other neighbouring countries from its start.
Motsoaledi said only 6500 people had been compensated to the value of R220-million so far, with about R88-million of that going to foreign nationals.
The money is due to 3.5-million workers in Southern Africa whom the department says it is unable to trace. Some did not leave addresses and could not be found.
Mines compensation commissioner Dr Barry Kistnasamy said the unclaimed benefits were under a social protection fund.
“This problem goes back many years and these are large amounts of money that are due to workers.”
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Mines, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Health Ministry have created a compensation fund of R1.5-billion to compensate mineworkers who suffer injuries on the job.
According to the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act, compensation is given for diseases such as pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis (TB) and asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma.
National Union of Mineworkers health and safety representative Mzwakhe Nhlapo said a uniform and fair compensation system needed to be put in place and workers should be involved in its planning and implementation.
“If they don’t involve us, it may not be a sustainable intervention.”
The Department of Mineral Resources has established a database of 700000 records to assist in tracking down former mineworkers who have not claimed benefits. — DDC
R30-billion unclaimed by miners
A total of R30-billion lies unclaimed from the pension and provident funds of former miners who worked under apartheid but never received their money, according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
At the Smart Investments in Health conference in Johannesburg Motsoaledi told international health experts and delegates from about 10 Southern African Development Community countries, including some from mining companies and trade unions, that the payment mechanisms for mining compensation and pension fund distribution had proved inefficient and better systems were needed to standardise processes.
The SA mining sector has relied on migrant labour from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other neighbouring countries from its start.
Motsoaledi said only 6500 people had been compensated to the value of R220-million so far, with about R88-million of that going to foreign nationals.
The money is due to 3.5-million workers in Southern Africa whom the department says it is unable to trace. Some did not leave addresses and could not be found.
Mines compensation commissioner Dr Barry Kistnasamy said the unclaimed benefits were under a social protection fund.
“This problem goes back many years and these are large amounts of money that are due to workers.”
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Mines, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Health Ministry have created a compensation fund of R1.5-billion to compensate mineworkers who suffer injuries on the job.
According to the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act, compensation is given for diseases such as pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis (TB) and asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma.
National Union of Mineworkers health and safety representative Mzwakhe Nhlapo said a uniform and fair compensation system needed to be put in place and workers should be involved in its planning and implementation.
“If they don’t involve us, it may not be a sustainable intervention.”
The Department of Mineral Resources has established a database of 700000 records to assist in tracking down former mineworkers who have not claimed benefits. — DDC
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