The Southern African Bishops Conference has started a class action lawsuit in the High Court of South Africa against mining companies BHP, its subsidiary South32, and Seriti, a South African company. The Church is initially representing 17 former and current coal miners afflicted by lung disease.

In South Africa, many former mine workers are no longer affiliated with trade unions, which leaves them without the necessary resources and ability to pursue legal claims against the large corporations responsible for their lung-related illnesses. The Church believes it has a responsibility to provide support to ensure these individuals can obtain the compensation to which they are entitled.

The lawsuit aims to seek compensation for all miners employed by the defendants since 1965 who have developed lung diseases, as well as for the dependents of those who have succumbed to illnesses caused by coal dust exposure. The class action alleges that, despite being aware of the inherent risks associated with coal mining, the mining companies neglected to provide their employees with sufficient training, appropriate equipment, and a safe working environment.

Coal serves as a fundamental component of South Africa’s economy, providing employment for nearly 100,000 individuals and contributing to 80 percent of the nation’s electricity generation. The industry is primarily located in the eastern Mpumalanga region, an area that Greenpeace identifies as having some of the most polluted air globally. The miners are represented by Richard Spoor, an attorney with a track record of securing compensation in comparable cases.