Pretoria – The Department of Health will on Monday begin medical tests and payment of benefits to former miner workers who suffered health injuries that included Tuberculosis (TB) and Silicosis diseases.
Announcing the development on Sunday, (22 January 2023), the department said it will “commence with the programme of screening, verification, medical examination and payment of benefits to eligible former mine workers who contracted Tuberculosis (TB) or Silicosis diseases while working for certain mines in the country during a period between March 1965 and December 2019”.
The department said the countrywide programme will kick off in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, before moving to other provinces.
In that regard, the department has called upon all former miner workers or their dependents to visit their nearest lodgement site in their areas.
The claimants are urged to bring along relevant documents such as;
- A valid South African ID or
- SADC passport
- Industry card
- Service records from the mine they worked at
- Any available medical records
- Deceased mine worker’s death certificate and
- An autopsy report, if available.
The department said the compensation amount will depend on several factors including the severity of the permanent respiratory impairment suffered by the mineworkers and their employment history at qualifying and non-qualifying mines.
“However, in the case where the mine worker has passed on, the dependants are urged to submit the relevant documents including a death certificate,” the department said.
“A claim for a mineworker who died before 10 December 2019 will only be eligible if the main cause of death is attributed to silicosis or TB, or there is an approved Occupational Diseases in Mines & Works Act (ODMWA) certificate or other exceptions.”
A list of qualifying gold mines and periods is accessible here:
