Tiger Brands to provide advance payments for listeriosis victims

Tiger Brands has agreed to make advance payments to those severely impacted by the listeriosis outbreak.

In a joint media statement, Tiger Brands, Richard Spoor Inc and LHL Attorneys confirmed that monies will be paid out to those who require urgent medical care while the class action against the manufacturer continues.

The details of the payments will remain confidential.

"In late October 2024, Tiger Brands reported that the company’s attorneys were engaging with the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Richard Spoor Inc and LHL Attorneys, to agree on relief for qualifying individuals who have urgent medical needs, regardless of the fact that liability has not yet been determined," the statement read.

Richard Spoor said the open lines of communication with Tiger Brands is an important inroad and a first step in the parties' efforts towards justice.

"The interim advance payments will go some way towards relieving the acute needs of the recipients," the founding director of Richard Spoor Inc. said.

Tiger Brands chief executive officer, Tjaart Kruger, said the legal process has been long and arduous.

"Even though liability has not yet been determined and Tiger Brands has no legal obligation to provide interim relief at this stage in the class action, the interim advance payment to a number of claimants with urgent needs recognises the debilitating circumstances in which they find themselves. Where the company has been provided with required information and documentation to enable decision-making in the process, we will act swiftly," Kruger said.

He said engagements between the parties’ legal representatives will continue in respect of the assessment of a number of claimants who may qualify for assistance, within the confines of the current process.

Kruger added the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has agreed to make its investigation records available to the parties affected.

"We believe that access to the NICD’s records will greatly assist the parties in moving the matter forward," he said.

Between 2017 and 2018, South Africa recorded the largest listeriosis outbreak, claiming the lives of 218 people and affected at least 1,000 more.

The outbreak was traced to a Tiger Brands facility based in Polokwane in Limpopo.

The class action, which is being managed in two stages is still at the first stage during which liability is to be determined by the Court. Only if Tiger Brands is found to be liable will the issue of causation arise, in the second stage of the class action, as well as an assessment of compensation payable to qualifying claimants for damages suffered.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

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