The miners contracted silicosis, a respiratory ailment which can take up to 30 years to develop, after breathing in excessive levels of dust, according to the lawyers.

Anglo will be asked to pay up to 20 million rand for injury, pain and suffering, loss of earnings and medical expenses for the 10 men, said Richard Meeran, a consultant for Australian lawyers Slater & Gordon, who have specialised in asbestos cases.

"These are test cases, and we are also looking at the wider picture... The total cost of the silicosis cases could be very high indeed," he said.

It was very difficult to estimate the number of South African miners and former miners suffering from silicosis, which is debilitating and can be fatal, especially when victims are also suffering from tuberculosis, Meeran said.

Estimates by experts range from tens of thousands to half a million, he added.

Anglo American, the world's third-biggest diversified mining company, said it had not received notification of a lawsuit, but would defend any that is filed regarding silicosis.

"We do not believe Anglo American is liable, and we will defend any legal proceedings which are instituted against Anglo," said spokeswoman Anne Dunn, who declined to comment further.

During the apartheid era, showering and changing facilities at the mine shaft, which are needed to remove toxic dust, were not provided for black workers, a statement from the lawyers said.

"The industry appears to have had displayed a flagrant disregard and cavalier attitude to the health of their workers, placing profit as the clear priority, taking full advantage of the apartheid system," it said.

In addition to demanding compensation for individual miners, the suit is attempting to establish a fund to monitor and treat respiratory disease in former miners.

Also working on the case is the UK Legal Resources Centre and London-based Leigh Day & Company, the law firm that represented South African miners who successfully sued British building group Cape Plc for asbestos-related illnesses.

The South African Legal Aid Board is also providing funding for the cases, the statement said.

-Nampa-Reuters

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