Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane have welcomed the disbursement of over R42 million in compensation and benefits to former mineworkers and surviving beneficiaries in the province.
The funds have been disbursed through a 41-day outreach programme that commenced on 13 July 2026 in Port St Johns.
Mabuyane, himself a former mineworker in his youth, has spearheaded the Ex-Mineworkers’ Programme alongside the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), through Project Ithubalethu, to ensure former mineworkers and their families receive their long-overdue compensation.
To date, the initiative has disbursed over R42 million across the Eastern Cape.
The financial injection is aimed at addressing the long-standing needs of former mineworkers and their families by ensuring streamlined access to social security benefits, unpaid compensation and statutory claims.
Bringing services closer to communities
The Department of Employment and Labour, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, the Department of Health, Ithubalethu Ex-Mine Workers’ Programme, the South African Ex-Mineworkers Council, Rand Mutual Assurance and the South African Medical Association held an ex-mineworkers’ roundtable at the Mthatha Health Resource Centre, located at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
The roundtable and outreach programme in Mthatha provided a platform to exchange information, share experiences and report on progress made across the province.
Sihle Mlangeni, representing the Embassy of eSwatini, also attended the session as a representative of Labour, as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation.
During the engagements in Mthatha, Meth, Mabuyane and departmental leadership met directly with ex-mineworkers and beneficiaries to listen to their concerns, assess service delivery on the ground and oversee the processing of claims through mobile Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation Fund units operating on-site.
Additional services included health screening, work-seeker registration for beneficiaries, social security services by the Department of Social Development and identity document services by the Department of Home Affairs.
“Our priority remains clear: bringing stakeholders together, advancing justice for our workers, and delivering tangible results to vulnerable communities. The disbursement of over R42 million is a demonstration of our commitment to restoring dignity to ex-mineworkers, who contributed immensely to the economic backbone of this country,” Meth said.
Mabuyane highlighted the personal significance of the initiative, emphasising that the provincial government remains resolute in bringing restorative justice to former mineworkers.
The Premier also thanked all partners and officials for going the extra mile to service communities with diligence.
“We appreciate the work of the teams who have demonstrated that you can go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of people who desperately need the resources for their livelihoods,” Mabuyane said.
Programme to continue nationwide
The department emphasised that the initiative is an ongoing, long-term programme.
Former mineworkers and eligible family members or dependents are urged to visit their nearest Labour Centre or DEL service points to enquire, register and process their unclaimed benefits and compensation claims.
Mobile offices across South Africa and processing teams will continue maintaining an active presence in targeted districts across the Eastern Cape to ensure all eligible former workers and families receive their rightful benefits.
Meth said significant progress had been made during the 41-day programme.
“The 41-day marathon of capturing and processing claims has seen great strides by all stakeholders. On the first day alone, on 13 July 2026, the Department of Employment and Labour paid out R1.4 million. Some of the claimants are old and frail, while some of the beneficiaries have lost their husbands and fathers due to occupational diseases such as silicosis and TB.
“This is a very important and much-needed programme for our people, who are most in need, and it will continue nationwide,” Meth said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.
