Assmang in campaign to boost image
June 5, 2008
By Slindile Khanyile and Ingi Salgado
Durban and Cape Town - Ferromanganese producer Assmang is due to splash newspaper adverts across the country in the next few days in a public relations campaign that coincides with its termination of medical benefits in a long-running manganism saga.
Jan Steenkamp - the executive director of Assmang and its 50 percent shareholder, African Rainbow Minerals - said this week that the adverts were aimed at putting across Assmang's position on events related to a department of labour inquiry on manganism.
This follows a decision to discontinue medical benefits offered to two of the 10 men diagnosed with manganism almost two years ago.
Brian Anderson and Simon Miya yesterday confirmed they had received letters informing them the firm would stop assisting with their medical expenses from the end of the month.
A source said the ferromanganese smelter had promised the 10 men, who had refused to be retested, R500 000 each if they were reassessed and another R500 000 if they were again confirmed to have manganism. This settlement would have been over and above the medical benefits and salaries the company has been paying.
The men declined the offer.
Assmang could not be reached yesterday to respond to this allegation. The company has retracted its initial acceptance of the manganism diagnosis.
It wants to set up a panel of doctors, with a revised medical surveillance protocol, to retest the men. This team includes US specialist Warren Olanow.
The men have refused to be examined again, on the grounds that they have seen too many doctors recommended by the company and they did not trust the latest team of specialists.
"I have told myself that I have to prepare for my death, because without the company's assistance, I am going to die," said Miya.
"The company paid half of my medical aid contribution, which not only assisted me with manganism medication but helped me and my family if we needed other treatments.
"All of this [medication and consultation] cost at least R2 000 a month," he said.
Assmang had also topped up pension funds received from the compensation commission, he said.
Richard Spoor, a lawyer acting for the workers, said: "The problem is that Assmang's behaviour is informed less by trying to find justice and more by a desire to avoid any criminal responsibility."
"This is a desperate situation because the company has called off the talks where we were negotiating for a settlement. We all agree that manganism is a complex disease but we need an independent panel to do the tests," said Spoor.
Steenkamp said this week that the company had decided to dispute the manganism diagnosis after realising it was "a lot more complicated".
A distinction should be drawn between manganism, which was defined as a movement disorder, and manganese toxicity associated with certain neuropsychological symptoms, Steenkamp said.
Asked what this distinction might mean for the company, he said: "If it's manganism, there are certain things we'll do from a financial and medical [standpoint]. If it's toxicity, we would have to reconsider, because it's different conditions."
Steenkamp said: "We are assuming this sickness was caused by the company. If it did, we will accept full responsibility and will be accountable."
During the public inquiry into the circumstances around the exposure of the Assmang workers to excessive levels of manganese dust, the company said these men could be suffering from any illness but manganism.
Steenkamp said Assmang had not analysed the potential costs of paying out sick workers, but he was adamant that such payment would not threaten the firm's viability.
"I don't believe it [projecting the costs of a settlement] is something we should even consider at this stage," he said.
When asked how much Assmang was paying panel member Olanow for his professional services, he said no agreement had yet been reached, but in any event this was "privileged information".
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