The provincial department's Dr Nandipha Kahla says the department will make more concerted efforts to take to these areas around the province to raise awareness on labour issues such as the claiming of compensation or labour funds or even unfair labour practices these residents may have in the past endured or are currently faced with.

She explains that the department intends to embark on these campaigns on Saturdays at populated places in these affected areas such as malls and shopping centres as most people do their shopping on Saturdays.  

Meanwhile, one resident from Botshabelo, Radisebo Mompati, who has just been helped to process his claims for compensation, many of which date back from before 1994, says he is happy with the service he received here today.

Speaking to OFM News, Mompati, who said he has worked at various mines as a miner, never received any payouts from the mines in question when they closed down.

He, however, walks away hopeful after receiving help today that he may claim some of these funds from all those years ago.

So far, over 324 people have been attended to and received help at the Free State Department of Labour roadshow in Botshabelo.

This is according to Kahla, who said this number is made of 6 people with enquiries and claims from the department's inspectorate services unit, 56 of these claims were from the unemployment fund, while 11 people claimed from the compensation fund and finally, 22 jobseekers got help with registering their job resumes with the department's public employment services.

Kahla says she challenges that they are currently faced with include long queues and she is worried that they may not be able to attend to all the people today, which means they may have to come again soon.

The Compensation fund will visit Ratanang sports grounds at Jacobsdal, next Saturday, 1 June, from 7am to 4pm and Heilbron Plaza, the following Saturday, 8 June, again from 7am to 4pm.

OFM News