Speaker, the ANC welcomes the recent national road show in Klerksdorp by the Department of Labour's Compensation Fund, during which it engaged stakeholders in promoting the concept of decentralisation. This is intended to increase the operational efficiency of the organisation.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity of the Department of Labour. Its function is to compensate workers for injuries, disability, illness, diseases and death sustained during work. Decentralisation is an initiative whereby services of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act are rendered at provincial level, rather than being solely provided at the Compensation Fund's head office.
This initiative of decentralisation in the provinces is meant to bring the services of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act closer to the people. Previously, all information and documentation had to be sent to the national office for registration, adjudication and payment. This process has proved to be time-consuming and frustrating for clients.
A key element in the decentralisation process has been the move away from manual processing to the introduction of an electronic system, and the turnaround time for registration and adjudication has been reduced from 90 days to 60 days. I thank you.