Anglo American has announced that the High Court of South Africa has dismissed the class action certification application brought against its subsidiary, Anglo American South Africa Limited (AASA), by law firms Leigh Day and Mbuyisa Moleele on behalf of Zambian claimants. The class action was related to the effects of lead pollution in the town of Kabwe, Zambia. The court ruled that the claimants' application for certification of a class action was untenable and ordered them to pay Anglo American's costs incurred in responding to the application. The court also noted that the claimants' law firms and their funders had insurance to cover the legal costs, so there would be no impact on potential claimants. Anglo American's Legal & Corporate Affairs Director, Richard Price, stated that the claim was "entirely misconceived" and that the company is not responsible for the situation in Kabwe.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company that produces copper, nickel, platinum group metals, diamonds, iron ore, steelmaking coal, and crop nutrients. The company is committed to being carbon neutral across its operations by 2040 and has a Sustainable Mining Plan in place to ensure a healthy environment, thriving communities, and trust as a corporate leader. Anglo American aims to unlock enduring value from natural resources for the benefit of the communities and countries in which it operates, society as a whole, and its shareholders. The company is focused on re-imagining mining to improve people's lives.
No further information was provided in the news release.