Coal Class Action

Daily Maverick spoke to five former mineworkers and to the widows of two former mineworkers who have since died during the process of the class action lawsuit instituted by Richard Spoor Inc on behalf of miners against mining company Exarro, formerly Tshikondeni mine. The class action is to compensate the mineworkers for the lung diseases they contracted while working at the mine as a result of mine negligence. Read their stories here: https://lnkd.in/d-R74Dg2 All photos by Eric Miller.

IN THE MEDIA: Coal miners vow to defend class action for coal dust diseases | @Moneyweb https://lnkd.in/dzZgS3Vv

IN THE MEDIA: Thousands join occupational lung diseases class action as mining firms oppose certification?application | Daily Maverick #RSI #CoalClassAction https://lnkd.in/dsVNsDJH

READ: Thousands Rally in Coal Workers' Class Action, Challenging Industry Giants on Health Protections https://lnkd.in/dcYCyY-J

IN THE MEDIA: RSI Associate, Chloe Hoffmann spoke to Newzroom Afrika this morning, and issued a stern warning to mining companies who have issued Notices of Intention to Oppose the Application of the class action. "We need the mining companies to know that we are watching," she said. Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/d56iCBeX

IN THE MEDIA: Thousands join occupational lung diseases class action as mining firms oppose certification?application | @dailymaverick https://lnkd.in/dsVNsDJH

UPDATE: All parties have submitted Notices of Intention to Oppose the application for certification of a class action, and since the launch of the application, two class representatives have already passed away.

EXPLAINER: Richard Spoor Incorporated (RSI) filed a series of class actions against coal mining companies in 2023. Why? To hold them liable for the lung illnesses contracted by thousands of current and former employees from 1965 to date. Who is involved? South32 Group, the Anglo-American Group, the Exxaro Group and Glencore Group, respectively. What happens next? If the class actions are approved the matter will go to trial and the companies can either decide to reach a settlement agreement outside of court, or the court can decide the companies’ liabilities and then rule on the compensation payable to ill mineworkers and the dependants of those who have since passed away from such illnesses. More updates soon. https://lnkd.in/dDv9habS

OP-ED: "Coal, whether we like it or not, still has a long life in South Africa, and we need to ensure that negligence and errors in the past are not repeated again," writes #RSI lawyers for @dailymaverick #CoalClassAction https://lnkd.in/d5waZJsH

UPDATE: The vast majority of respondents have opposed the certification applications of the class action, and #RSI is awaiting answering affidavits wherein they explain why they believe a class action is not the right way to proceed with the case. RSI Associate, Chloe Hoffman says "We view this as nothing more than time wasting." https://lnkd.in/dbM_v2f6