Eastern Cape ex-mine workers receive R42 million in 41-day claims drive
A provincial outreach programme has paid out more than R42 million in long-overdue compensation to former mine workers and their surviving families, with the department urging eligible claimants to come forward.
The Department of Employment and Labour and the Eastern Cape provincial government have paid out more than R42 million in compensation and benefits to former mine workers and surviving beneficiaries across a 41-day outreach programme that began on 13 July 2026 at Port St. Johns.
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth and Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane welcomed the disbursement, which the department describes as a concrete effort to address the long-standing needs of former mine workers and their families by streamlining access to social security benefits, unpaid compensation and statutory claims. The figures and statements are drawn from the official government record published.
The programme, run through Project Ithubalethu, has been spearheaded provincially by Mabuyane, himself a former mine worker in his youth. On the first day alone, 13 July 2026, the department paid out R1,4 million.
Roundtable at Mthatha
The Department of Employment and Labour, the Eastern Cape provincial government, the Department of Health, the Ithubalethu Ex-Mine Workers Programme, the South African ExMineworkers Council, Rand Mutual Assurance and the South African Medical Association held an ex-mine workers roundtable at the Mthatha Health Resource Centre at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
The session served as a platform to exchange information, share experiences and report on progress across the province. Mr Sihle Mlangeni, representing the Embassy of eSwatini, attended as a representative of Labour as part of the SADC delegation.
During the Mthatha engagements, Meth, Mabuyane and departmental leadership met directly with ex-mine workers and beneficiaries, moving along the queues to greet them, listen to concerns, assess service delivery and oversee claims processing through mobile Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation Fund units operating on site.
Additional services on site included health screening, work-seeker registration for beneficiaries, social security services by Social Development and identity documentation by 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-mine workers who contributed immensely to the economic backbone of this country.” - Minister Nomakhosazana Meth
Mabuyane said the provincial government remains resolute in bringing restorative justice to former mineworkers who built the nation’s economy, and thanked partners and officials for their work.
“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,” he said.
The human cost behind the claims
Meth noted that some claimants are old and frail, while some beneficiaries have lost their husbands and fathers to occupational diseases such as silicosis and tuberculosis.
“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.
How to claim
The department emphasises that this is an ongoing, long-term programme. Former mine workers and eligible family members or dependants are urged to visit their nearest Labour Centre or Department of Employment and Labour service point to enquire, register and process their unclaimed benefits and compensation claims.
Mobile offices across South Africa and processing teams will continue to maintain an active presence in targeted districts across the Eastern Cape so that all eligible former workers and families receive their benefits.
Media enquiries can be directed to Ms Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson.
