#AskYourMayor: Physio rubbed up wrong way

• Tammy Chivers:

I am a physiotherapist practising in Randburg and I treat civil servants of the City of Joburg, following injuries sustained at their workplace. The civil servants include, but are not limited to, firefighters, paramedics, Pikitup workers and teachers. My role is to return these employees to their workplace as quickly as possible, following their rehabilitation.

My issue is that I am not being compensated for my services. My phone calls, e-mails and personal visits to the injury on duty department at the City of Joburg are fruitless. My current outstanding book is R31 156, with some accounts as old as three years still “being processed”.

I am a small practice and, unfortunately, I cannot continue providing this essential service without being paid within a reasonable (30-day) time period. I would greatly appreciate your help in streamlining the process of settling accounts.

I am sure that other healthcare providers in the city are in a similar predicament, the result of which can lead to the suspension of services to the detriment of the council workers.

• Mayor Mashaba:

The City of Joburg Metropolitan Municipality is an exempted employer in terms of Section 84(1)(a) (ii) and (2) of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (Coid) Act 130 of 1993. This exemption status means the City of Joburg is a self-insured entity, paying the compensation for injuries on duty out of its own insurance fund.

The decision of whether a Coid claim for an alleged injury on duty will be accepted or not does not reside within the municipality. All alleged injury on duty claims are submitted to the Compensation Commissioner for approval, as stipulated in terms of Set ion 40 of the Coid Act.

The Compensation Commissioner evaluates the Coid claim and then accepts or dismisses the claim. Only after receipt of such a decision from the Compensation Commissioner, the City of Joburg processes the costs attached to the claim or any other compensation approved by the commissioner. Then only are accounts paid.

The city is currently exploring the option of securing a panel of service providers to deal with all injury on duty claims. This will enable the city to keep better control over payment issues. You are welcome to contact the Group Head: Shela & FCM, Dr S Ramroop (082- 373-8550), so that arrangements can be made regarding nonpayments.

Regular follow-ups are conducted with the Compensation Commissioner to check if accounts have been approved for payment.

• Thabo Matlala:

I’m an enrolled nurse by profession, but unemployed. I can’t find a job due to lack of job experience. How can I get job experience if no institution is willing to give me a platform to gain it?

• Mayor Mashaba:

Thank you for your letter, and I am sad to learn that you have been struggling to find work. Our department of health advertises for nursing vacancies every Wednesday in the Workplace. For now, you can contact Kumari Pillay, at KumariP@ joburg.org.za , copying in Promise Mbedzi, at PromiseMukhethwaM@joburg.org.za.