Addressing Delays in Processing Compensation Fund Claims

A Roundtable Stakeholder engagement session was held in Bolivia Lodge, Limpopo on 10 August 2023 to address delays in processing compensation fund claims. The stakeholders discussed the current state of Provincial Government compliance with the Compensation for Occupational Injuries (COID) Act and the reasons behind the delays.

Compliance with COID Act

Deputy Director Employer Registration, Jan Madiega, emphasized the need for departments to inform the Compensation Fund of any operational changes within seven working days. Provincial departments, as significant employers, must comply with the COID Act to serve as examples to other organizations.

Madiega also highlighted the significance of communicating changes within departments to the Compensation Fund. Failure to do so could negatively impact injured employees, preventing them from claiming benefits.

Delays due to Incorrect or Outdated Information

Madiega stated that one reason for delays in processing claims is the provision of incorrect or outdated information by employers. Employers must comply with the Fund’s requirements to cater to injured workers effectively.

Addressing Multiple Claims

Assistant Director Customer Care Kenneth Shaku addressed the issue of multiple claims. He explained that stakeholders often submit the same claim to different assessors, which consumes valuable time and resources. To counter this, the department has introduced the Customer Relations Management (CRM) tool.

The CRM tool aims to minimize duplicate queries, track queries from entry to resolution, and make customer information readily available to customer care representatives and relevant directorates.

The Roundtable Stakeholder engagement session served as a platform for discussing and identifying potential solutions to improve compliance with the COID Act and streamline the claims processing system. By addressing the challenges faced by both employees and employers, the stakeholders aim to ensure a more efficient and effective system for dealing with occupational injuries and compensation claims.