A Constitutional Court judgment paves the way for claims for occupational health diseases for ex-mineworkers in South Africa, a lawyer says. The court ruled unanimously favour of Thembekile Mankayi against AngloGold Ashanti. "This judgment opens the way for compensation claims for occupational health diseases for ex-mineworkers in South Africa," Mankayi's attorney Richard Spoor said in a statement… Unfortunately, Mankayi died last Friday, "so the judgement comes a week to late for him". He would be buried in Mthatha on Sunday. The judgment was a huge victory for ex-mineworkers with lung disease, who had won the right to claim civil damages from the mines," Spoor said.