Silicosis case could be settled soon

THE Supreme Court of Appeal has granted a postponement of the appeal in the silicosis and tuberculosis class action litigation.

Attorneys representing all parties involved wrote to the registrar of the court asking that it be postponed until further notice.

Gold companies were appealing against a judgment by the Johannesburg High Court which found that Richard Spoor Inc‚ Abrahams Kiewitz and the Legal Resources Centre could pursue two separate classes of claimants‚ one for silicosis and one for tuberculosis incurred from mining.

The appeal was set down for March.

The Legal Resource Centre said yesterday a joint letter to the court explained that good-faith settlement negotiations between the Occupational Lung Disease Working Group and claimants’ legal representatives had reached an advanced stage.

The working group represented African Rainbow Minerals‚ Anglo American SA‚ AngloGold Ashanti‚ Gold Fields‚ Harmony and Sibanye Stillwater.

The gold working group was established in 2014 and all of them had made provisions for claims.

Richard Spoor Inc‚ Abrahams Kiewitz and the LRC represented the class members.

“In view of that‚ all parties consider it to be in the best interests of judicial economy and the efficient administration of justice that the matter be postponed‚” the LRC said.

In September‚ the Financial Mail reported that just over R5billion set aside by gold companies for a silicosis settlement raised hopes that the six-year battle could reach an amicable conclusion. – BusinessLIVE‚ additional reporting by TimesLIVE