The Justice and Peace Commission coordinator of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) affirms church closeness to “listeriosis victims.”

In a conversation with the SACBC Communication Office, member of the Dominican Order of Preachers (OP) Fr Stan Muyebe said the Church has for the past six years “remained close to the listeriosis victims as they fight for justice against the powerful corporate entity Tiger Brands.”

The SACBC Justice and Peace Commission has been a prominent advocate for justice for the victims of the 2017-2018 listeriosis outbreak linked to Tiger Brands. The tragic outbreak, which claimed over 200 lives and left thousands with lasting health complications, was traced to contaminated products from a factory owned by Tiger Brands’ subsidiary, Enterprise Foods.

Since then, the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission has “worked tirelessly to support affected families in their ongoing struggle for accountability and restitution,” said Fr Muyebe OP on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Reflecting on the Church’s involvement, Fr. Muyebe OP noted that after the outbreak, families approached the Church seeking support “not only for legal assistance but also for emotional and spiritual accompaniment.”

He added, “The Church has accompanied these victims, many from impoverished areas like Soweto and the Eastern Cape, throughout their journey for justice and healing.”

Fr Muyebe OP told the SACBC communication office that “many of the victims face lifelong challenges, with some children born with severe health issues such as brain deformities that limit their ability to attend school.”

“The church has provided pastoral care, counseling, and encouragement, as a church we also try to give them hope, to remind them of God’s healing presence, regardless of their religious background. This compassionate support is especially crucial as the class action lawsuit, led by Richard Spoor Attorneys, drags on, leaving families in a painful state of limbo,” he continued.

After years of legal battles, on Monday, February 3 Tiger Brands announced that they had reached an agreement “for advance payments to be made to the first of a number of persons who are seeking interim assistance to address urgent medical needs while the class action continues.”

In the joint media statement, Tiger Brands, Richard Spoor Inc and LHL Attorneys confirm that they are “engaged in discussions to extend the relief to other qualifying claimants who are in a similar position.”

While the Justice and Peace Commission has “cautiously” welcomed this gesture, Fr. Muyebe OP said they will continue “pressing Tiger Brands to extend compensation to all affected individuals, including those with long-term medical needs, and to negotiate a settlement that benefits the entire class in the lawsuit.

Fr. Muyebe OP has called on Tiger Brands to “honor its moral responsibility to restore the dignity of those harmed by its negligence and to address this tragedy with genuine corporate accountability.”

In line with Pope Francis’ teachings on business as a vocation for the common good, Fr. Muyebe OP “believes that Tiger Brands has an opportunity to show corporate strength by taking full responsibility and ensuring comprehensive compensation for all affected.”

“This case has become a powerful example of the Church’s role in standing with the poor and marginalized, promoting justice, and calling for a business model that respects human dignity over profits,” said Fr Muyebe OP.

Meanwhile in a joint press conference with Richard Spoor Inc and LHL Attorneys held in September 2024 SACBC Secretary General highlighted the prolonged suffering of victims who have yet to receive compensation or closure five years after the crisis.

Fr Hugh O’Connor criticized the legal delays, stating that justice is being denied not only by big businesses and insurers but also by a system that allows legal manoeuvring at the expense of vulnerable people, and urged Tiger Brands, legal stakeholders, and health authorities to work together in good faith to expedite a fair settlement.