With about R5-billion in pension, provident, unemployment insurance and compensation funds due to South Africa’s current and former mineworkers, the Deputy Ministers of Mineral Resources, Health and Labour are renewing their focus on the integration of various statutory systems, including those falling under the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (ODMWA) of 1973 and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida) of 1993. Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant notes that, alongside this, the departments are developing a master database that comprises information on workers and former workers, which is currently “fragmented and deficient” in many areas, adding that substantial progress has been made.
