Jiya v Durban Roodepoort Deep Ltd

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Judge: Wunsh J
• Judgment Date: 10 June 1999
• Docket Number: 98/28484
• Hearing Date: 01 June 1999
• Counsel: D H Soggot SC (with him J R Peter) for the plaintiff. W L Wepener SC for the defendant.
• Court: Witwatersrand Local Division

Wunsh J :

At a hearing before Flemming DJP an order was made in terms of Rule 33(4) for the separate trial of an issue.

The plaintiff has instituted an action for damages of R336 000 F against the defendant, which is the owner of a gold mine where plaintiff worked underground as a lasher from 1982 to 1989. It is not disputed that the mine was a controlled mine in terms of the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act 78 of 1973 ('the Act'). One of the grounds of the claim is that the defendant negligently exposed the plaintiff to unsafe high levels of rock dust which caused G him to contract pneumoconiosis which, it is common cause, is a compensatable disease in terms of the Act. The plaintiff claims the damages for medical and related expenses, past and future losses of earnings and pain, suffering and a diminution of his amenities of life.

The plea puts in issue most of the allegations in the particulars of claim. Paragraph 9 reads: H

'9.

Ingeval die Hof bevind dat die eiser wel aan pneumokoniose ly en dat dit te wyte is aan sy werksaamhede in diens van die verweerder se myn, welke ontken word, dan en in daardie geval pleit die verweerder soos volg:

9.1

Die verweerder het te alle relevante tye 'n beheerde myn soos I bedoel in die Wet op Bedryfsiektes in Myne en Bedrywe 78 van 1993 soos gewysig (''die Wet'') bedryf en het soos deur die Wet vereis bydraes gemaak tot die vergoedingsfonds wat kragtens die Wet in die lewe geroep is.

9.2

Pneumokoniose is 'n vergoedbare siekte kragtens die Wet. J

Wunsh J

9.3

Die eiser is kragtens die Wet geregtig op vergoeding betaalbaar A deur die Vergoedingskommissaris indien hy aan pneumokoniose ly wat hy opgedoen het tydens werksaamhede in 'n beheerde myn.

9.4

Die eiser is op die Vergoedingskommissaris aangewese ter verhaal van vergoeding weens sy siektetoestand en 'n eis teen die verweerder synde die eienaar van 'n beheerde myn waarop die eiser B werksaam was word kragtens die Wet uitgesluit, alternatiewelik indien bevind word dat die eiser geregtig is op vergoeding vanaf die verweerder (welke ontken word) pleit die verweerder dat sodanige vergoeding verminder staan te word met die bedrag gelykstaande aan dit wat die eiser vanaf die vergoedingskommissaris sou ontvang het indien die eiser vergoeding soos C bedoel in die Wet vanaf die Vergoedingskommissaris geëis het.'

The Act provides for the payment of compensation in the case of a compensatable disease as defined (which includes pneumoconiosis) occurring as a result of work in a controlled mine or works. D

Section 100 of the Act reads:

'100. No person entitled to benefit from more than one source in respect of same disease

(1) No person shall be entitled to benefit under this Act in respect E of any disease for which he has received or is still receiving full benefits under the Workmen's Compensation Act 30 of 1941.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in any other law contained, no person who has a claim to benefits under this Act in respect of a compensatable disease as defined in the Act, on the ground that such person is or was employed at a controlled mine or a controlled works, shall be entitled, in respect of such disease, to benefits under the Workmen's Compensation Act 30 of 1941 or any other law.' F

The references to the Workmen's Compensation Act 30 of 1941 must, since 1 March 1994, be taken to be to the Compensation for Occupational...