JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – During the financial year to February 29, the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT) paid out 35 claims, totalling R3.42-million, to persons who have contracted illnesses related to exposure to asbestos stemming from South African mines.

Workers who were employed by or lived near qualifying asbestos mines, or the families of mineworkers who have died of mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, could claim for compensation.

Speaking at KRT’s annual general meeting earlier this week, chairperson Brian Gibson, who succeeded Phiroshaw Camay, who passed away on October 1, said there had been a notable increase in the evolution of some claims previously brought to the KRT.

Of the 35 claims paid out by the KRT during the financial year, 11 were previously lodged with the KRT but had subsequently been reclassified as more severe, thereby enabling them further compensation.

The asbestos-related disease (ARD) classifications are ARD1 – asbestos dust disease (pneumoconiosis); ARD2 – asbestos dust disease with severe lung-function impairment; ARD3 – asbestos-related lung cancer; and ARD4 – mesothelioma.

During the 2016 financial year, KRT paid compensation for 14 claims related to ARD1, one claim related to ARD2, five claims related to ARD3 and 15 claims related to ARD4.

Gibson pointed out that there were five cases in which claimants with no prior history of ARD had lodged claims for the most severe form of ARD – mesothelioma. There were also three cases where claimants with ARD1 had progressed to ARD4.

He noted that although there were some cases where ARD had progressed to more severe forms of ARDs, the volume of claims has been on an overall downward trend since 2010/11, having stabilised to the current trend of about 35 cases a year.

Since it was established in February 2006, up to February 29, KRT has paid compensation of R90.66-million to 1 350 claimants (some claimants have more than one claim owing to progression of their ARD).