JOHANNESBURG, May (ANA) - A historical settlement between representatives of mineworkers suffering from silicosis and mining companies was reached on Thursday in Johannesburg, the Legal Resources Centre said.
"This is the first class action settlement of its kind in South Africa and a result of three years of extensive negotiations between the representative attorneys and the Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) Working Group – representing African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, Sibanye Stillwater and Pan African Resources," the LRC said in a statement.
"It must be emphasised that the signing of the settlement does not mean that finality has been reached. The agreement must still be approved by the Johannesburg High Court. Approval will take place in a number of weeks."
Compensation for the mineworkers will be administered by the Tshiamiso Trust, to be established immediately after court approval and will be responsible for the distribution of claims. A call centre will also be established to record claims and provide information and procedures on making claims. All the information on the trust and call centre will be made available to the public, said the LRC.
The class action dates back to 2003 when a claim was first launched against Anglo American. The thousands of claimants represented are mostly former mineworkers in South Africa and from neighbouring countries.
Silicosis is a crippling lung disease caused by inhalation of silica dust.
- African News Agency (ANA)