The Catholic Church in South Africa has begun a class action lawsuit against mining firms on behalf of coal miners who have contracted lung disease.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the High Court of South Africa. It names three mining companies: South32, Seriti Resources, and Exxaro Resources.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to provide their workers with adequate training, equipment, and a safe working environment. This, the lawsuit says, led to the miners developing lung diseases such as silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the miners and their families, as well as a court order requiring the companies to improve safety standards in their mines.
The Catholic Church said it was motivated to file the lawsuit after being approached by mine workers for assistance.
"We are aware that many former mineworkers are suffering from lung diseases as a result of their work in the mines," said Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town. "We believe that these workers deserve justice and that the mining companies must be held accountable for their actions."
The mining companies have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
This is not the first time that the Catholic Church has taken action on behalf of mine workers in South Africa. In 2018, the church helped to negotiate a settlement with Anglo American Platinum, one of the world's largest mining companies. The settlement provided compensation to thousands of mine workers who had been diagnosed with lung disease.
The class action lawsuit is a significant development in the fight for justice for mine workers in South Africa. It is the first time that a major religious institution has taken legal action against mining companies on behalf of miners with lung disease. The lawsuit is likely to have a major impact on the mining industry in South Africa and could set a precedent for other lawsuits around the world.
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