NORTHERN Province Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi accused British asbestos mining company Cape plc of leaving South Africa with a “legacy of death and suffering”. He was speaking during a press conference on Wednesday before leaving for England to meet with lawyers suing the company on behalf of about 5_000 poisoned South Africans. “Cape plc made use of child labour, many of whom are among the claimants in the case, which will be heard in the House of Lords in England soon,” Ramatlhodi added. Ramatlhodi called for the quick finalisation of the settlement claims because about 350 claimants in the Northern Province and Northern Cape have died while the case has dragged on over the past three years. He said he was appalled by recent reports that Cape plc dumped bodies of unknown victims of asbestos related diseases in mineshafts during the late 1960s. Cape plc in May indicated that it was willing to settle out of court. Victims have three months to register their claims against the company. They have to provide their personal information by October 10. – African Eye News Service
–> Wednesday July 4, 2001