South Africa hears historic class action for lead poisoning launched by Zambian children and women

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 23, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg will continue hearing a ground-breaking case brought by Zambian children and women against the mining giant Anglo American, seeking compensation for lead poisoning, human rights groups announced today.

At the end of the 12-day hearing that opened on 20 January, the Court will decide whether to certify this unprecedented class action demanding that Anglo American South Africa remedy the adverse health impacts of its mining activities in the District of Kabwe, Zambia. If the case proceeds, it will offer a unique opportunity for residents of Kabwe to have a day in court and secure judicial remedies for the alleged human rights abuses associated with Anglo American’s business operations.

Amnesty International and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) were admitted as joint amici curiae (“friends of the court”) in August 2022 to brief the Court on international business and human rights standards and South African constitutional law relevant for the certification of the class action. The human rights groups stress that South Africa’s duty to regulate the conduct of its companies extends beyond its territorial borders and that Anglo American’s responsibility to respect human rights should inform the Court’s decision to certify this class action.

South African courts have the power to level the imbalance and close the accountability gap that exists in practice

“Residents of Kabwe have shown incredible resilience in pursuing legal action against a multinational mining giant and should be afforded the opportunity to make their case before South African courts. Businesses have a responsibility to remediate the adverse human rights impacts of their activities. Remediation starts with a fair access to courts” said Candy Ofime, Researcher and Adviser on Business and Human Rights at Amnesty International.

This lawsuit has the potential to set a key legal precedent and fill an important accountability gap. For years, human rights organizations have been amplifying residents of Kabwe’s calls for justice internationally. At the hearing, representatives of the United Nations Special Procedures will also have a chance to present legal argument regarding corporates’ responsibility to remediate harm.

SALC’s Socio-Economic Rights Cluster Lead, Brigadier Siachitema, highlighted that:

“This case is not just another class action. Its certification is important not only to the people of Kabwe but to anyone who suffered human rights abuses as a result of transboundary corporate conduct by a South African company. South African courts have the power to level the imbalance and close the accountability gap that exists in practice. ”

Amnesty and SALC are represented by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and advocate Karabo van Heerden in this matter.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.