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| South Africa gold miners to sue over lung disease | South Africa gold miners to sue over lung disease |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former gold miners in South Africa can go ahead with a class action against mining companies over health damage allegedly caused by their work, a court in Johannesburg has ruled. | Former gold miners in South Africa can go ahead with a class action against mining companies over health damage allegedly caused by their work, a court in Johannesburg has ruled. |
| The high court decision paves the way for what would become the largest class action in South African history. | The high court decision paves the way for what would become the largest class action in South African history. |
| The ex-miners say they contracted silicosis, an incurable lung disease, from years of working in the mines. | The ex-miners say they contracted silicosis, an incurable lung disease, from years of working in the mines. |
| The court said that a class action was "the only realistic option". | The court said that a class action was "the only realistic option". |
| Africa Live: The latest BBC African news updates | Africa Live: The latest BBC African news updates |
| Judge Phineas Mojapelo's decision could lead to a court case lasting up to 10 years, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko reports from Johannesburg. | Judge Phineas Mojapelo's decision could lead to a court case lasting up to 10 years, the BBC's Nomsa Maseko reports from Johannesburg. |
| But she adds that the former miners hope that, if successful, the case could help improve their lives as well as those of their families. | But she adds that the former miners hope that, if successful, the case could help improve their lives as well as those of their families. |
| Silicosis, caused by inhaling silica dust contained in gold-bearing rocks, can lead to breathing difficulties, regular coughing and chest pains, and it can also lead to tuberculosis. |