SW News: The Catholic Church is guiding a class-action lawsuit on behalf of coal miners with lung disease against mining firms in South Africa. The Southern African Bishops Conference said lawyers submitted documents to the High Court on Tuesday.

Archbishop of Cape Town Stephen Brislin said former miners are no longer members of trade unions and therefore lack the means and capacity to seek legal recourse from large companies responsible for their lung diseases. Dasantha Pillay, an attorney with Spoors' business, said the complaint was brought on behalf of 17 former and current mine workers and names mining giant BHP, its spin-off South32, and South Africa's Seriti as defendants.

All miners who have worked for these firms since 1965 and have developed lung disease as well as the dependents of employees who have passed away due to illnesses brought on by coal dust are seeking compensation.

The firms did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The Church said it initiated and facilitated the case after mine workers approached it for assistance. The coal industry in South Africa employs nearly 100,000 people and also provides 80% of the country's electricity. According to the environmental advocacy group Greenpeace, the Mpumalanga province's eastern section, where the industry is located, has some of the worst air in the world.

The class action claims that while being aware of the risks faced by coal miners, the firms failed to give their employees the necessary training, tools, and working conditions.