South African women to sue multinationals
Published by MAC on 2004-08-10
South African women to sue multinationals
10 August 2004
At least 7,000 South African women are preparing to take on five US multinationals to claim compensation for occupational injury, Association Of Injured Women of South Africa spokesperson Lenning Makhiwane said on Monday.
Makhiwane said the women were represented by advocate Edward Fagan who was positive that a hearing would take place in mid-September in a Federal Court in the United States of America.
"We want compensation from the US multinationals because they did business in SA and the workers were affected," Makhiwane said.
According to Makhiwane they were claiming "pension funds, compensation for injuries and occupational diseases."
The companies under fire are Vametcor in Britz, Sasol One and Natref in Sasolburg, Fluor SA in Johannesburg and the Gold Fields mining company.
Some 3,000 of the 7,000 claims are against Sasol One.
According to Makhiwane, "many husbands died as a result of the chemicals and the pollution in these companies and we have death certificates to prove this."
Sapa