The ANC in the Eastern Cape has welcomed the R5 billion class action settlement for thousands of miners who contracted fatal lung diseases.
ANC Provincial Secretary, Lulama Ngcukayitobi said that almost all the claimants are black miners from South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, who were not provided with adequate protection during and after apartheid rule ended in 1994.
He also said that the majority of the claimants and intended beneficiaries are from the Eastern Cape and the victory is a relief to many who have for years hired lawyers, staged protests in front of government offices and buildings demanding to be listened to on their plight.
Last week the Legal Resources Centre, Abrahams Kiewitz Inc and Richard Spoor Attorneys announced that they had reached a historic class action settlement with the Occupational Lung Disease Working Group, enabling compensation to be paid to eligible mine workers suffering silicosis or TB or both.
Seven mining companies, African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, Sibanye Stilwater and Pan African Resources, had reportedly set aside R5bn for the settlement.
The agreement still has to be approved by the Johannesburg High Court.
Ngcukayitobi said that the settlement was a victory for the poor and the working class who have endured pain and suffering after working for many years in those mines.
“Some have passed on but in addition to the settlement payout, there is also close to R4 billion in a compensation fund which companies have been contributing to for years, which will go to affected miners or the families of those who died from the diseases,” he said.
Ngcukayitobi said the ANC in the Eastern Cape was appealing to Ward Committees and Ward Councillors as well as Government to start an awareness campaign among beneficiaries in the province who live in deep rural areas.
