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FILE: Mineworkers underground.
About R113 million has been paid out to gold mineworkers in the North West through the Tshiamiso Trust.
The trust, together with the South African Ex-Mineworkers Council and the North West Health Department is participating in an outreach programme at the Job Shimankane Hospital in Rustenburg.
The aim is to assist qualifying former mineworkers to claim occupational diseases compensation.
The diseases, include TB and Silicosis, contracted from working in certain gold mines between March 1965 and December 2019.
The Trust’s manager, Realeboha Shale says, “We had received round about 8 772 claims of which of that amount 5 519 are people that we have so far completed in terms of medical benefit examinations. And in terms of payments, hundred and thirteen million has been paid to the North West Province.”
The Trust’s council, Jeph Moreke says this is a significant collaborative effort.
“Mainly, we are focusing on lung diseases like its not necessarity TB. Its lung diseases like silicosis, asbestosis, black lung disease for those who worked in the coal mine. So, we are giving the ex mineworkers who are here those services and they go through the x-ray to check if their lungs are still in good condition. If they are not in good condition and they to claim, then they can put the lodgement easily.”
