a) The ex-mineworker’s compensation fund programme is the government’s national campaign that tracks, traces and pay former mineworkers' unclaimed benefits, including provident funding and compensation for lung diseases contracted on the job. The Department of Health is responsible for providing compensation benefits to eligible current and ex-mineworkers for occupational lung diseases caused by hazardous exposures in the mines. It also administers the Fund in accordance with the Occupational Diseases of Mines and Works Act, 78 of 1973 which provides for the compensation of occupational injuries or occupational diseases contracted by employees during the course of their employment or death caused by such injuries or illness.
b) 77 403 claims to current and ex-mineworkers or their beneficiaries (if the mineworker is deceased) have been paid as of 27 March 2023 amounting to R2 470 806 271, 00 in South Africa and other countries.