The Guardian (UK)
Tracy McVeighApril 27, 2014.
UK courts may decide compensation claim for thousands suffering from deadly condition
Anglo American gold miners at work in the Western Deep Levels
near Carltonville, South Africa. Photograph: Shaun Harris/AP
The fate of thousands of sick and dying South African gold miners could be decided in a British court if talks to set up an industry fund to compensate them continue to stall.
As South Africay marks the 20th anniversary of the first multiracial democratic elections in the country, representatives of apartheid-era gold industry workers are in London to win justice for those suffering from the deadly lung condition silicosis – a type of the occupational disease known as miner's lung.
Although the disease and the carcinogenic nature of silica dust has been known about since the 19th century, conditions in gold mines may have left tens of thousands of workingmen affected. This weekend representatives of South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) were in the UK to put pressure on the mining company Anglo American to pay for the testing and healthcare of former miners, as well as compensation for them and their families.
There are more than 3,500 ex-miners currently involved in a legal action against Anglo American in the London courts, while an action on behalf of 17,000 miners against 29 mining companies, including Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields, is under way in Johannesburg.
Anglo American is one of the world's largest mining companies and has its headquarters in London. At its annual general meeting in Westminster last week, the NUM president Senzeni Zokwana addressed the firm to demand "justice" for silicosis sufferers and accused it of "procrastinating for the last 20 years".
Silicosis is a condition recognised since the time of the Roman empire but the industrial revolution made it the most common occupational disease in the world. Even at low levels, the carcinogenic silica dust builds over time in a sufferer's lungs. The disease can take between 10 and 40 years to develop and there is no cure. It leaves people particularly susceptible to TB – endemic in southern Africa. The NUM believes there could be as many as 50,000 ex-miners with silicosis.
Zokwana said the company had agreed to meet again in May to discuss the issue. "So maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, or maybe it is an artificial light. The stalling point is that they say 'why us?' We were not the only company, there are many, but they are the biggest and if they took the lead then others would have to follow," he said. "Thousands of former gold miners have already died from lung disease and thousands more have had their lives destroyed. It was always possible through ventilation and proper clothing to protect people from silica dust in mines. You can do it. But in the past men were down just to break rocks and make money.
"Unless Anglo American acts now, thousands more will die without the healthcare, compensation and support they deserve," he said, adding that the NUM favoured a fund as a fairer way to help ex-miners get access to testing for the condition as well as compensation.
The miners' case is supported in the UK by Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), whose director Tony Dykes said the mining companies had a "mortal duty" to compensate their former workers. "To put it crudely the attitude during apartheid was too often that black workers were expendable."
Anglo American chairman Sir John Parker said the company supported initiatives to ensure that sufferers received support and statutory compensation, but stuck to its position that it was not liable for the claims.
The firm said it, along with industry, government and civil society partners, shared "common objectives" to improve the access to healthcare for all disadvantaged South Africans.
As South Africay marks the 20th anniversary of the first multiracial democratic elections in the country, representatives of apartheid-era gold industry workers are in London to win justice for those suffering from the deadly lung condition silicosis – a type of the occupational disease known as miner's lung.
Although the disease and the carcinogenic nature of silica dust has been known about since the 19th century, conditions in gold mines may have left tens of thousands of workingmen affected. This weekend representatives of South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) were in the UK to put pressure on the mining company Anglo American to pay for the testing and healthcare of former miners, as well as compensation for them and their families.
There are more than 3,500 ex-miners currently involved in a legal action against Anglo American in the London courts, while an action on behalf of 17,000 miners against 29 mining companies, including Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields, is under way in Johannesburg.
Anglo American is one of the world's largest mining companies and has its headquarters in London. At its annual general meeting in Westminster last week, the NUM president Senzeni Zokwana addressed the firm to demand "justice" for silicosis sufferers and accused it of "procrastinating for the last 20 years".
Silicosis is a condition recognised since the time of the Roman empire but the industrial revolution made it the most common occupational disease in the world. Even at low levels, the carcinogenic silica dust builds over time in a sufferer's lungs. The disease can take between 10 and 40 years to develop and there is no cure. It leaves people particularly susceptible to TB – endemic in southern Africa. The NUM believes there could be as many as 50,000 ex-miners with silicosis.
Zokwana said the company had agreed to meet again in May to discuss the issue. "So maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, or maybe it is an artificial light. The stalling point is that they say 'why us?' We were not the only company, there are many, but they are the biggest and if they took the lead then others would have to follow," he said. "Thousands of former gold miners have already died from lung disease and thousands more have had their lives destroyed. It was always possible through ventilation and proper clothing to protect people from silica dust in mines. You can do it. But in the past men were down just to break rocks and make money.
"Unless Anglo American acts now, thousands more will die without the healthcare, compensation and support they deserve," he said, adding that the NUM favoured a fund as a fairer way to help ex-miners get access to testing for the condition as well as compensation.
The miners' case is supported in the UK by Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), whose director Tony Dykes said the mining companies had a "mortal duty" to compensate their former workers. "To put it crudely the attitude during apartheid was too often that black workers were expendable."
Anglo American chairman Sir John Parker said the company supported initiatives to ensure that sufferers received support and statutory compensation, but stuck to its position that it was not liable for the claims.
The firm said it, along with industry, government and civil society partners, shared "common objectives" to improve the access to healthcare for all disadvantaged South Africans.
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