Compensation Fund blames missing records for injured steelworker’s 19-year wait for claim

The Compensation Fund has acknowledged a former steelworker's nearly 19-year battle for compensation following an alleged workplace accident. Isaac Michael Moletsi claims a runaway overhead crane crushed him while he worked for a steel company in Gauteng. However, the Fund struggles to confirm that his injuries occurred at work, as his employer's liquidation destroyed crucial records.

Compensation Fund spokesperson Hloni Mpaka explained that a claim under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act requires confirmation of the workplace accident by the employer and medical records. Despite the liquidation of his former employer, the Fund remains open to adjudicating Moletsi's claim if he can provide medical history confirming the injury around 2008.

The Fund requested various documents from Moletsi in February 2024, including medical records, a payslip, and a certified copy of his ID. However, his submitted documents did not link his hip replacement surgery to a workplace injury. A further complication arose in December 2024 when Moletsi claimed the accident occurred when he was 44, around 2008, which contradicts the dates in the medical records provided.

The Fund's efforts to verify Moletsi's employment history also led to a discrepancy, as his UIF records showed he only worked for 14 days in 2007. The liquidation of Wilander Steel, where Moletsi worked, in August 2023 resulted in the destruction of all company records. The Fund is now relying on Moletsi's independently provided documentation to adjudicate his claim.