Question NW2104 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
19 June 2023 - NW2104
Madokwe, Ms P to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Notwithstanding the settlement agreement that was approved by the Gauteng High Court on 26 July 2019 in favour of former miners and their dependants which led to the establishment of the Tshiamiso Trust, the beneficiaries and/or their survivors are still struggling to secure silicosis compensation from the gold mines, what (a) has he found to be the extent of the total number of beneficiaries affected and (b) steps has his department taken to ensure that the mines honour the settlement agreement and give the affected miners, who form part of the backbone of the economy, what is due to them?
Reply:
The Department of Mineral of Resources and Energy (DMRE) is legislatively not responsible for compensation of employees. There are two Departments in the Republic of South Africa that are responsible for compensation of employees. These are the Department of Health and the Department of Employment and Labour. Silicosis compensation is specifically the responsibility of the Department of Health through the administration of the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (ODMWA) as amended.
The Tshiamiso Trust is established under the National Department of Health, through its Statutory Body called The Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, which is responsible for compensation of all occupational lung diseases incurred by mineworkers and ex-mineworkers.
However, the DMRE supports the respective Departments on their respective programmes including on compensation.