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Mine workers stand underground at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine, south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa October 12, 2022.
The Gauteng Health Department has embarked on a medical assessment programme of those who previously worked in mines in the West Rand District.
The programme is an initiative driven by the Department in partnership with the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases and other stakeholders.
The aim is to trace and assist ex-mine workers who may be eligible for social security benefits and medical care due to work-related illnesses acquired during their time in the mines.
Chief Director and ex mine workers outreach project leader in the Gauteng Department of Health Siyabonga Jikwana says the assessments started at the Carletonville Hospital.
“This is gonna be a continous programme. Yes, we started right now with West Rand to run a pilot but it’s not a programme that will be ending this week as we will testing the core that we have. Whether we finish the 350 that we are testing now we still continue as Gauteng to render the service and we are expanding in all the different districts, in Vaal, in the City of Joburg, Ekurhuleni and in Tshwane district.”
MEDIA STATEMENT || MEC NKOMO-RALEHOKO TO OVERSEE EX-MINE WORKERS PROGRAMME AS
THEY UNDERGO MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY TESTS FOR COMPENSATION pic.twitter.com/NLj7i6iCEj— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) May 7, 2025
