South African gold miners awarded $32.5 million in compensation

By the Associated Press
via The Guardian, London
Saturday, March 5, 2016

South African gold miners infected with lung diseases brought on by repeated exposure to dust have won a multimillion-dollar out-of-court settlement, their lawyers have said.

Anglo American South Africa and AngloGold Ashanti have agreed to pay the equivalent of $32.5 million (L22 million) to claimants affected by silicosis, settling the case before it went to court, said lawyer Zanele Mbuyisa, who represents 4,365 claimants.

Silicosis, caused by the inhalation of dust particles, makes victims vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis. Most of the claimants worked in South Africa's gold mines during apartheid, when miners rarely had the proper protective gear, according to the miners' lawyers.

"Thousands of silicosis victims must have died uncompensated during a period when the industry should have been well aware of their predicament," said Mbusiya. ...

... For the remainder of the report:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/05/south-african-gold-miners-a...

But it's only $7,000 per miner:

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Miners-Win-Historic-Settlement-But...