“Gold mining companies refused leave to appeal silicosis judgment”, 24 Jun 2016

The High Court in Johannesburg on Friday refused gold mining companies leave to appeal its landmark silicosis judgment, saying the certification of a class action — a procedural step — is "not appealable"…[T]he judgment clears the way for the silicosis litigation to go ahead…The class action could mean billions of rand worth of claims on behalf of the 17,000 to 500,000 mine workers and former mineworkers suffering from silicosis and tuberculosis…[T]he judges acknowledged the case was unprecedented and complex, but an appeal would unduly delay the class action from going ahead, which could lead to the mineworkers suffering irreparable harm…The applications for leave to appeal were brought by Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti, Anglo American SA, DRDGold, African Rainbow Minerals and Harmony Gold.  Argument was heard on Thursday.