In October 2015, former workers on South Africa's gold mines took more than 30 companies to court. The mine workers asked the South Gauteng High Court for permission to bring a class action against the companies, on behalf of all miners who have silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) as a result of their exposure to silica dust since 1965, and of the families of all miners who have died of silicosis and TB. Here are articles relevant to this court case that GroundUp has published.
On 26 July 2019 the Gauteng High Court approved a R5 billion settlement agreement between miners and six large mining companies. This is how you can register for a claim:
You qualify if:
Myekelwa Mkenyane (49) from Amadiba in the Eastern Cape is sick with silicosis and an applicant in the case. He worked in mines for 25 years. He received R36,000 compensation. "I am at home now and my wife died. My neighbours and my children take care of me," he says. Photo by Thom Pierce.
The long battle to get the mines to cough up.
Understanding the silicosis judgment
Landmark silicosis settlement made order of court
Judgment delivered on 13 May 2016: Miners win case for class certification
Day one and two (12 and 13 October): Sick miners in court for landmark silicosis case
Day three (14 October): Court hears whether silicosis miners can bring class action
Day four (15 October): Silicosis: mining companies hit back in court
Day five (16 October): Unfortunately we were unable to report on day five.
Day six (19 October): Mines not liable for TB, silicosis hearing told
Day seven (20 October): Silicosis: Anglo American joins the fray
Day eight (21 October): Anglo American plays the race card
Day nine (22 October): Mines are being obstructive, say miners’ lawyers
Silicosis: an epidemic of racism?
The scandal of South Africa’s sick miners
Sick miners: time for the mines to share the burden
Lawyers in black and white: Spoor vs Boqwana
Black advocates tell court they object to 'racist sting'
Litigation has been ongoing for ten years
Law | 7 February 2023
Tshiamiso Trust says terms were only reached in late 2019 and Covid-19 has delayed the process
By James Stent
Feature | 20 July 2020
“This agreement can never make full redress for the loss and harm suffered by gold mine workers and their families and communities over the last 100 years,” says judge
Law | 26 July 2019
But some mines will continue to fight class action suit
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 30 May 2019
Historic settlement reached in silicosis case
By Pete Lewis
News | 3 May 2018
But very little information on dust monitoring
By Pete Lewis
News | 12 February 2018
Gold mines drop their plan to appeal against court ruling
By Pete Lewis
Brief | 10 January 2018
Hundreds of thousands of families could benefit from the class action lawsuit that can now take place
By Pete Lewis
Analysis | 16 May 2016