While the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes Tiger Brands’ announcement to make advance payments to the first cohort of claimants who suffered irreparable damage from the deadly listeriosis outbreak in 2017, the Federation is baffled by the company’s refusal to take full responsibility for the callosal damage caused by the disease. Legal representatives of the food manufacturer and those of the claimants agreed that the company would provide compensation, though interim, by covering medical expenses incurred by some of the victims. 

Around a thousand people were infected with the disease and 216 reportedly died after consuming products packaged by Tiger Brands. It’s been a lengthy eight years since the disastrous event, yet families who lost loved ones and those who have had to endure medical complications still bear the brunt of the company’s alleged recklessness. Among the claimants are parents whose children suffered neurological defects caused by the consumption of certain products by mothers during their pregnancies. The class action has not been resolved because, according to Tiger Brands, ‘liability has not been determined.”  Who then is liable when it was the very same company that packaged the food items, distributed them to various retailers across the country and later recalled them as the number of patients accumulated.

The distribution of food unfit for consumption must be treated with the sternness it deserves. One life lost is one too many. As the country experienced unfortunate countless deaths from food poisoning over the past year, informal shop owners as well as major food manufacturers have a responsibility to account for their products. Far worse are the likes of Tiger Brands currently enjoying billions of rands in profits derived from loyal customers but delay the victims’ deserved justice.

COSATU calls for speedy and full compensation for all the claimants. It cannot be easy for them battling to mitigate the harm from the disease. The eight years of delaying tactics from the food items producer do not bring any comfort to their current circumstances.

The Federation further calls for greater health and safety enforcement laws to compel accountability processes in the production of consumable goods. Spending eight years to establish liability and assessment of compensation does not translate to justice.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za