MEDIA STATEMENT
To: Editors & Health Journalists
Issued by: Department of Health
Date: Saturday, 29 April 2023
Government warns public of fake ex-miners compensation fund agents
Pretoria: The government has noted with concern a misleading digital poster circulating on social media platforms bearing the face of Prophet Moporo, inviting all former mine workers and their families to be assisted with compensation fund applications, and also inform those who have applied of their application status.
The government distances itself from this event (planned scheduled for 01 May 2023 at Maluti TVET College), and consider this as a scam by conmen who want to advantage of, and enrich themselves out the plight of former mineworkers (and their dependants) who might have contracted TB, Silicosis and other occupational lung diseases while working in the mines between March 1965 and December 2019, and those who were not paid their pension or provident funds.
The national government has delegated the responsibility of coordinating this countrywide Ex-Mineworkers Compensation Programme to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo; the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Boitumelo Moloi; and the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, in partnership with various stakeholders including the Southern African Miners Association (SAMA), Minerals Council South Africa, Tshiamiso Trust and the mining companies.
No individual or organisation has been outsourced to carry out this mandate on behalf of the government.
Thus, people are warned to ignore anyone claiming to be representing the government, or never pay any fee to be assisted to lodge a claim, because the lodgement process is free of charge.
The programme is part of government`s efforts to track, trace and pay the former mine workers or their dependants who qualify for compensation funds, class action settlement funds and pension / provident funds.
The Deputy Ministers have been leading this programme to several communities around the country, starting with KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Eastern Cape. The public will be informed well on time of the dates, times and venues for the next provincial visits, together with required documents to bring along.
For information about the Ex-miners Compensation Fund Programme, members of the public can call the Call Centre on 080 1000 240/ 010 500 6186/ Send a Please Call Me to 072 557 8077.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Foster Mohale
Spokesperson
Department of Health
0724323792
Tebogo Thejane
Spokesperson
Department of Employment and Labour
082697 0694
Makhosonke Buthelezi
Spokesperson
Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
082 395 5584
