The Department of Employment and Labour through its entity the Compensation Fund engaged Organised Labour as it is a sector that represents employees and must be well informed about labour laws such as the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act COIDA. This engagement took place at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gauteng province, on 19 August 2026.
This was the third workshop to be held by the Fund; similar fruitful workshops were held recently in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces respectively.
The Compensation Fund’s role was to empower Federations such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU), Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) about the rights and obligations of employers and employees under Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA).
“In terms of section 73(1) of the COID Act prescribe that the Commissioner shall for the period of not more than two years from the date of an accident or commencement of a disease pay the reasonable medical cost incurred by an employee in respect of the medical aid necessitated by an accident or disease, the Commissioner may continue to pay for the medical expenses beyond the two-year period under specific conditions such as treatment aimed at reducing the employment’s disablement” said CF COID Services Deputy Director, Mr Solly Mdhluli.
According to the CF Assistant Director: Medical Payments, Ms Azwihangwisi Mukwevho, Medical Claims receive invoices from Medical Service Providers after treatment has been rendered. Invoices are then submitted electronically or manually to the Fund however if Medical Service Providers who previously rendered medical treatment but have not received payment it is because they failed to provide required documents, submitted inappropriate tariff codes and in other instances they duplicate submission of invoices.
Provincial Secretary from COSATU Ms Louisa Modikwe, said that COIDA benefits are critical to the wellbeing and protection of employees and their families. She also highlighted that there’s a need for stronger collaboration between Organised Labour, employers and the Compensation Fund to ensure that employers fulfil their statutory obligations.
The Organised Labour representatives actively engaged intensively with the Compensation Fund by raising a range of questions related to the benefits provided under COIDA. Discussions focused on the various benefits available to employees who sustain occupational injuries or contract work-related diseases, as well as the processes for accessing these benefits.
For media inquiries, please contact: Teboho Thejane, Departmental Spokesperson: 082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za
