SACBC Welcomes Tiger Brands’ Listeriosis Settlement Offer

Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Justice & Peace Commission Statement On The Listeriosis Class Action Lawsuit – 

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference welcomes the long-awaited decision by Tiger Brands to submit its settlement offer in the listeriosis class action case that has dragged on for seven years.

A Long-Awaited Breakthrough for the Voiceless

During these seven years, we have journeyed with the victims of the listeriosis outbreak with the recognition that the contaminated processed meats central to this crisis – mainly polony and viennas- are the common food for the poor and the struggling middle class. This means that the majority of the listeriosis victims are the voiceless members of our society, those easily forgotten by those in the corridors of corporate power. Today’s decision by Tiger Brands marks a momentous breakthrough for the voiceless in our society and a sign of the victory of the Risen Lord who has walked with them for seven years on the road to Emmaus.

While supporting them to initiate legal action against Tiger Brands and steadfastly standing with them in their pursuit of justice, it has been disappointing that Tiger Brands took so long to effectively admit de facto liability and provide much-needed closure to affected families. However, the development today demonstrates that some form of conversion of “corporate heart” can happen in the business sector, and this is the kind of conversion that is so desperately needed in South Africa

Gratitude for Advocates of Justice

Along with the victims, we thank those who fought for them and helped restore their dignity as God’s messengers of hope, including the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Richard Spoor Inc., and LHL Attorneys.

We recognise that the journey towards justice is not complete—the victims have not yet reached Emmaus.

Appeal for Swift Settlement

We urge Tiger Brands and the class action attorneys to finalise the settlement quickly without unnecessary delays. As this is the year of the Jubilee, the jubilee of hope, we insist that this year should not end without closure and relief for the victims. We therefore make an ethical appeal to Tiger Brands and class action attorneys to quickly finalise the settlement process and avoid unnecessary delays.

Further, Tiger Brands, the class attorneys, and the Department of Health must take effective measures to guarantee that all victims are able to receive the compensation they deserve, leaving nobody behind or excluded from this settlement

In South Africa and in the whole world, with corporate profit increasingly being prioritised over human dignity, we urgently need a new vision of humanity in which powerful companies are called out and held to account when their corporate greed causes massive harm in the lives of the poor. In such a vision, the concerns of the poor are the concerns of the people of God, who are called by the Lord “to preach the good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

Setting an Example for Other Class Action Cases Involving the Poor

 Our prayer is that the decision today by Tiger Brands sets an example for other companies facing class actions involving the poorest of the poor, particularly coal mining companies in lawsuits involving sick mine workers. These companies should seek fair settlements and stop dragging the cases out for years, which only deepens the suffering of the poor.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: A Moral Scandal

In legal circles, they say justice delayed is justice denied. For us in the Church, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we declare to all companies involved in class action lawsuits affecting the poorest that when such lawsuits extend beyond three years, we will consider them a moral scandal that needs to be denounced.

Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM
SACBC Justice and Peace Commission