Silicosis case

In October 2015, former workers on South Africa's gold mines took more than 30 companies to court. The mine workers asked the South Gauteng High Court for permission to bring a class action against the companies, on behalf of all miners who have silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) as a result of their exposure to silica dust since 1965, and of the families of all miners who have died of silicosis and TB. Here are articles relevant to this court case that GroundUp has published.

Important update

On 26 July 2019 the Gauteng High Court approved a R5 billion settlement agreement between miners and six large mining companies. This is how you can register for a claim:

Visit silicosissettlement.co.za/register.

Call the call centre at 0801 000 240.

Send a “please call me” to 072 557 8077.

Who qualifies?

You qualify if:

You are a mineworker who is sick with silicosis or TB and worked at one of these gold mines from 12 March 1965.

You are a dependent (wife, child or life partner) of a mineworker who has died and who got sick with silicosis and/or TB and worked at one of these gold mines anytime from 12 March 1965.

Myekelwa Mkenyane is a former miner who has silicosis. Photo by Thom Pierce.

Myekelwa Mkenyane (49) from Amadiba in the Eastern Cape is sick with silicosis and an applicant in the case. He worked in mines for 25 years. He received R36,000 compensation. "I am at home now and my wife died. My neighbours and my children take care of me," he says. Photo by Thom Pierce.