The government has expressed concern over messages circulating on social media relating to May Day compensation funds. This is after a misleading digital poster circulating on social media platforms bearing the face of self-proclaimed Paseka Motshoeneng known as Prophet Mboro, inviting all former mine workers and their families to come and be assisted with compensation fund applications and inform those who have applied of their application status has been doing the rounds. 

IT'S A SCAM 

The government has since distanced itself from this event planned for today at Maluti TVET College in Bethlehem, Free State. The government says this is a scam by conmen who want to advantage of and enrich themselves out of the plight of former mineworkers and their dependents who might have contracted TB, Silicosis and other occupational lung diseases while working in the mines between March 1965 and December 2019, and those who were not paid their pension or provident funds.

DEPUTY MINISTERS IN CHARGE 

Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said no individual or organisation has been outsourced to carry out the mandate on behalf of the government. "People are warned to ignore anyone claiming to be representing the government, or never pay any fee to be assisted to lodge a claim, because the process is free of charge. The National government has delegated the responsibility of coordinating this countrywide ex-mineworkers Compensation Programme to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo; the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms Boitumelo Moloi; and the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, in partnership with various stakeholders, including the Southern African Miners Association (SAMA), Minerals Council South Africa, Tshiamiso Trust and the mining companies," said Mohale. He added that the programme is part of the government's efforts to track, trace and pay the former mine workers or their dependents who qualify for compensation, class action settlement funds and pension or provident funds. "The Deputy Ministers have been leading this programme to several communities around the country. The public will be informed well on time of the dates, times and venues for the next provincial visits, together with required documents to bring along," he said.