Thokoza Cash-In-Transit Heist Ends in Chaos<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nGauteng Takes the Lead in Mining Health Redress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Working alongside the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) and other key partners, the department has prioritized tracing and evaluating ex-mineworkers who may have developed illnesses such as silicosis, tuberculosis, and other respiratory conditions during their time in the mining industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Director and leader of the outreach programme, Siyabonga Jikwana, confirmed that assessments began at Carletonville Hospital and will continue across the province. \u201cWe started in the West Rand with a group of 350 ex-mineworkers as a pilot, but we\u2019re not stopping there,\u201d said Jikwana. \u201cWe\u2019re expanding this service to reach ex-mineworkers in the Vaal, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane districts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carletonville Hospital Launches Health Checks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Carletonville Hospital served as the starting point for the programme, screening hundreds of ex-mineworkers who are often overlooked in South Africa\u2019s healthcare system. Many of these individuals left the mines years ago without ever receiving proper medical follow-up. The department aims to change that by offering on-site medical evaluations and referrals for further treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By actively reaching out to communities, Gauteng Health is making it easier for ex-mineworkers to access critical support services. These health checks focus on identifying chronic respiratory illnesses and other occupational diseases so that affected individuals can apply for compensation and ongoing care through the Compensation Fund for Occupational Diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gauteng Addressing a Long-Standing Health Crisis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mining has fueled South Africa\u2019s economy for over a century, but its workforce has paid a heavy price. Thousands of former mineworkers live with long-term health conditions caused by prolonged exposure to mine dust, chemicals, and poor ventilation. For years, many of them have suffered in silence, unable to claim the benefits they earned through hard labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gauteng\u2019s new programme seeks to change that narrative. Instead of waiting for patients to come forward, the Department of Health is taking a hands-on approach\u2014mobilising outreach teams and working with community organisations to find ex-mineworkers who need help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating a Sustainable Model for National Rollout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jikwana says the programme is designed to be long-term. \u201cThis is not a once-off campaign. We are building a sustainable framework to continue serving ex-mineworkers across all districts of Gauteng.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The department plans to use lessons from the pilot in the West Rand to strengthen outreach efforts and scale up services in other areas. Officials are also exploring ways to integrate the programme into broader provincial healthcare planning, ensuring that no eligible former mineworker falls through the cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Partnerships Drive the Programme Forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The success of this initiative relies heavily on partnerships. The MBOD plays a critical role by certifying occupational illnesses and helping mineworkers access compensation. Local clinics and community leaders are also stepping in to spread awareness and assist with recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy working together, we\u2019re restoring dignity to people who built this country\u2019s economy from underground,\u201d Jikwana said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Ex-Mineworkers Can Get Involved<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ex-mineworkers<\/a> who suspect they may have an occupational illness should visit Carletonville Hospital or contact their local clinic for more information. As the programme expands, outreach teams will visit various communities to conduct on-site screenings and gather relevant medical histories.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Gauteng Department of Health urges former mineworkers and their families to take advantage of this opportunity. With improved access to medical evaluations, financial support, and long-term care, this programme offers hope and healing to those who once powered South Africa\u2019s mines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a proactive medical assessment campaign to support former mineworkers suffering from occupational diseases. This initiative started in the West Rand District and aims to identify work-related illnesses. It also aims to connect ex-mineworkers with the healthcare and social security benefits they deserve. ALSO READ: Thokoza Cash-In-Transit Heist Ends<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":4630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a proactive medical assessment campaign to support former mineworkers suffering from occupational diseases. This...","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[1312,83,1311],"class_list":{"0":"post-4625","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-ex-mineworkers","9":"tag-gauteng","10":"tag-health-drive"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4625"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4632,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4625\/revisions\/4632"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}