The Department of Labour (DoL) on Wednesday expressed its appreciation for the overwhelming turnout of former mineworkers in the John Taolo Gaetswewe (JTG) district, in the Northern Cape, who heeded the call to make applications for unclaimed benefits.
The campaign has witnessed a turnout of 3 279 potential applications since its launch on May 30.
The DoL team managed to take 758 applications and 2 521 potential applicants were issued bank forms to fill in and return.
“[The DoL] reiterates its call for calm as we plan to cover the length and breadth of JTG district and serve all applicants,” commented DoL provincial operations chief director Zolile Albanie.
The campaign, which is aimed at former mineworkers who left employment in the mines prior to April 2002, has been successfully rolled out in the JTG district from August 13 to 16, targeting Kuruman and surrounding villages, as well as the Bothitong and Dithakong areas.
The campaign will continue in Cassel on September 3, Loopeng on September 4, Kathu on September 5 and Heuningsvlei on September 6, including mop-up work in Kuruman from August 22 to 23 to assist potential applicants who were turned away owing to high influx during this week’s proceedings.
The campaign will soon shift focus to the ZF Mgcawu district, in the Northern Cape.