Lucas Ledwaba

The issue is important, the attitude of government, unions and mine employers unconscionable. These essays are too slight for a book. They are often repetitive, without being re-inforcing. The book is very well produced, with photos, a nice font and fine paper. The information is up-to-the minute, with long quotes from the 2016 Nkala judgement allowing a silicosis class action suit. But the story of how silicosis issues came to be neglected - particularly after 1994 - is more confusingly presented than can be imagined. The Mine Health and Safety Council is pilloried for taking no steps for 20 years - but the member of the Council who is interviewed (at length) is not challenged on this appalling record. He is interviewed about how bad the conditions on the mines were in the 1970' and 80's. The book, for all its basic worthiness, is not a reliable source for detail. The online annals of GroundUp are a preferable point of reference for the latest information. The history is told by Elaine Katz, Jock McCullogh and Rodney Ehrlich. Why write a book if you are not going to point to a course of action?… (mehr)