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Mining companies in S. Africa settle claims with silicosis sufferers

Xinhua, March 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Anglo American South Africa (AASA) and AngloGold Ashanti has concluded an agreement with miners suffering from silicosis, the companies said Friday.

"A settlement has been reached without admission of liability by AASA or AngloGold Ashanti, and the terms of the agreement remain confidential," they said in a statement.

An amount of up to 464 million rand (about 30 million U.S. dollars) will be paid by AASA and AngloGold Ashanti to about 4,400 miners through an independent trust, said the statement.

The trust will determine medical and other eligibility and compensation to claimants with the funds available, according to the statement.

It said compensation will be determined at the discretion of the trustees, and will be based upon the agreed guiding principles set out in the trust deed.

"We have sympathy for all miners who have contracted silicosis and believe that the agreement to settle this litigation is in the best interests of the plaintiffs, their families, AASA and its wider stakeholders," said Andile Sangqu, executive head of AASA.

"As AASA, we continue to work with industry, government and civil society to tackle the many challenges of primary and occupational healthcare in South Africa," added Sangqu.

The collective objective is to significantly improve the access and quality of care available to South Africans as well as ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for all the employees, Sangqu said.

In November 2014, AASA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, and Sibanye Gold announced that they had formed an industry working group to address issues relating to compensation and medical care for occupational lung disease in the gold mining industry in South Africa.

The industry working group is seeking a comprehensive solution to address legacy compensation issues and future legal frameworks that are fair to past, current and future employees.

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust while working underground. Enditem