Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

Tiger Brands, whose factory in Polokwane was identified as the source of the outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa during 2017 and 2018, which claimed the lives of almost 200 people will soon face a class action.

This is after Richard Spoor Inc. Attorneys and LHL Attorneys launched this class action which was granted by the Johannesburg High Court in December 2018.

The lead attorney with Richard Spoor Attorneys, Thamsanqa Malusi says the firm was approached by people who have lost loved ones or suffered after contracting listeriosis.

Read: Pork producers lost about R550 million due to listeriosis outbreak

Effectively this case is simply about getting Tiger Brands to pay the victims that have suffered as a result of contracting listeriosis.

— Thamsanqa Malusi, lead attorney Richard Spoor Attorneys

A lot of victims have suffered longterm illnesses as a result of contracting the disease, so we want Tiger Brands to take responsibility for that and compensate those people adequately.

— Thamsanqa Malusi, lead attorney Richard Spoor Attorneys

Malusi says Tiger Brands has not offered a settlement. In fact, it said that it will defend themselves against being held liable for the outbreak.

As part of the class action, the court has ordered that all the people affected by the listeriosis outbreak should be contacted.

Richard Spoor Attorneys has written to the affected victims from the list provided by the department of health as well as started a media campaign for victims.

He says anyone who does not want to be part of the case can opt out by contacting the firm, otherwise, it will be assumed they will form part of the class action and whatever outcome will bind them.

To hear the rest of the conversation, listen below:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : Listeriosis class action against Tiger Brands to commence