JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – An improved integrated process to aid former mineworkers battling with pension and provident fund claims would be rolled out across major historical mine labour sending areas following the conclusion of a pilot project in the Eastern Cape earlier this week.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Financial Services Board gathered the records, including old pay slips, Chamber of Mines industry numbers, old dom pass identity numbers, provident and pension fund letters and old Teba mining company cards, of all the former mineworkers in Port Elizabeth, Kwazakhele, Daku Square, Dibanisa Road and eBhayi to track and trace any potential benefits due, some of which dated back to the 1970s.

The pilot project, undertaken from July 4 to 6 as part of the Special Presidential Package for the Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities initiative, highlighted the need for improved integration between the various programmes, such as support programmes for occupational health and diseases compensation.

The DPME would now work to improve the integrated processes in King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Nquza Hill, Mhlontlo and Port St Johns in the OR Tambo district municipality; Mbizana and Ntabankulu in the Alfred Nzo district municipality; and AbaQulusi, eDumbe, Nongoma, Ulundi and uPhongolo, in the Zululand district municipality.

A DPME-led Steering Committee on Unclaimed Benefits, along with task teams responsible for the legal, administrative and tracking and tracing interventions had been established to ensure unpaid pensions and provident funds reach former mineworkers.

“The South African government, through the Special Presidential Package for the Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities chaired by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, is providing the necessary pressure to ensure that unclaimed funds for workers and [former] workers are paid out,” the DPME said in a statement on Friday.