Former Eastern Cape mineworkers who suffer from silicosis and were left out of the R500-million compensation payout by Anglo American and Anglo Ashanti, gathered in Dimbaza yesterday to chart a way forward on how to get their share from the mining giant.
The gathering, attended by people from areas like Cala, Cofimvaba, Lusikisiki, Fort Beaufort and Willowvale, took place while the Johannesburg High Court ruled in favour of a class action against mining companies to be sued for damages.
Speaking to about 200 sick miners and their relatives, Moses Mohapi of Jongisizwe Ex-Mine Workers, which is a non-governmental organisation fighting for the ex-miners’ rights, said many felt cheated by companies.
“We have thousands of ex-mineworkers who have not benefited from these compensations that are being paid. We have identified them and soon we will be launching their claims,” Mohapi said.
Mohapi said many of the ex-miners had died and left their families with nothing.
“When we travel to these rural Eastern Cape communities, it’s sad to see families without their breadwinners because they’ve died because of what they’ve inhaled underground and yet the mines are not paying them.”
Former miner Njoli Magwezana of Cofimvaba said he had been suffering alone without any hope of help.
“This initiative by Mohapi and these lawyers will change our lives. We are now poor while mineowners are rich,” he said.
Magwezana was diagnosed with silicosis in the late ’90s and had to spend months in hospital in Mpumalanga.
Yesterday the ex-miners were registered in a database, from where claims will be sent to lawyers.
“We will then work with the lawyers to ensure these claims are fast-tracked,” Mohapi said.
After yesterday’s landmark silicosis ruling in favour of miners to launch a silicosis class action suit, thousands of current and former gold miners are expected to join the class action. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
EC Ex-miners seek silicosis payout: Hopefuls meet for way forward
The gathering, attended by people from areas like Cala, Cofimvaba, Lusikisiki, Fort Beaufort and Willowvale, took place while the Johannesburg High Court ruled in favour of a class action against mining companies to be sued for damages.
Speaking to about 200 sick miners and their relatives, Moses Mohapi of Jongisizwe Ex-Mine Workers, which is a non-governmental organisation fighting for the ex-miners’ rights, said many felt cheated by companies.
“We have thousands of ex-mineworkers who have not benefited from these compensations that are being paid. We have identified them and soon we will be launching their claims,” Mohapi said.
Mohapi said many of the ex-miners had died and left their families with nothing.
“When we travel to these rural Eastern Cape communities, it’s sad to see families without their breadwinners because they’ve died because of what they’ve inhaled underground and yet the mines are not paying them.”
Former miner Njoli Magwezana of Cofimvaba said he had been suffering alone without any hope of help.
“This initiative by Mohapi and these lawyers will change our lives. We are now poor while mineowners are rich,” he said.
Magwezana was diagnosed with silicosis in the late ’90s and had to spend months in hospital in Mpumalanga.
Yesterday the ex-miners were registered in a database, from where claims will be sent to lawyers.
“We will then work with the lawyers to ensure these claims are fast-tracked,” Mohapi said.
After yesterday’s landmark silicosis ruling in favour of miners to launch a silicosis class action suit, thousands of current and former gold miners are expected to join the class action. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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