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BL Premium reports that six of SA’s biggest gold mining companies could be liable to pay victims of silicosis more than the R5bn specified in a settlement approved by the High Court in Johannesburg.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, human rights attorneys representing the class-action members said that the total compensation amount depended on the number of claims that have been made and are still to be made. “The guarantees of R5bn are regarded by both sides as being a reasonable estimate of what the ultimate liability might be, so it’s possible that it could be more than that … or less”, said attorney Michael Murray. The R5bn landmark settlement was approved by the High Court last Friday and is the result of a historic class action which dates back to 2012 when mine workers filed the lawsuit seeking compensation for silicosis and other occupational lung disease they suffered because of their work on the mines. Gold mining companies party to the settlement are African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater. They will pay between R10,000 to R500,000 per claimant, depending on the severity of each case. Families of deceased mine workers are also eligible for compensation.
- Read the full original of Phumi Ramalepe’s report on the above at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page