South African gold miners launch largest lawsuit in Africa's history

Over the past century 40 percent of all gold mined has come from South Africa.

But all that glitters is definitely not gold. The rock that bears gold also contains silica, which causes a disease called silicosis, when silica lodges in the lungs. It is estimated that half of South Africa's gold miners suffer from the life-threatening disease.

Michael Cohen, a reporter covering the story for Bloomberg News in Capetown, South Africa, said though thousands of miners have been affected, the full scale of the issue is unknown.


South African gold miners launch largest lawsuit in Africa's history | PRI.ORG