The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, and the leadership of the Minerals Council of South Africa will meet in Johannesburg on Friday to discuss progress in the payment of occupational lung disease claims.
The matter concerns compensation for those who have contracted lung diseases such as tuberculosis and silicosis while working in the mines.
According to the Department of Health, over the past seven years, the compensation fund has processed more than 50 000 claims worth more than R1 billion.
The department’s spokesperson Foster Mohale explains, “The meeting will also discuss strategies to accelerate the settlement of claims and increase awareness in communities through targeted community outreach programmes to enable the victims of occupational lung diseases or their dependents to lodge the claims on unpaid funds.”
