The Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has welcomed the long-overdue decision by Tiger Brands to submit a settlement offer in the listeriosis class action lawsuit—a case that has dragged on for more than seven years and affected thousands of people, most of them poor and voiceless.

A Victory for the Voiceless

The listeriosis outbreak, linked to contaminated processed meats such as polony and viennas produced by Tiger Brands, resulted in over 1,000 cases and more than 200 deaths, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 2017–2018 outbreak is regarded as the world’s largest recorded listeriosis outbreak and disproportionately impacted low-income communities who rely on affordable processed foods.

In the May 12, 2025 statement, Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM, speaking on behalf of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission, praised the recent development, calling it “a momentous breakthrough for the voiceless in our society and a sign of the victory of the Risen Lord who has walked with them for seven years on the road to Emmaus.”

Seven Years of Accompaniment

Since the outbreak, the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission has walked alongside the victims and their families, advocating for justice, corporate accountability, and systemic change. The Commission recognized early on that the case was not simply a legal issue, but a moral one, raising serious questions about food safety, corporate ethics, and the dignity of the poor.

“During these seven years, we have journeyed with the victims… with the recognition that the contaminated processed meats… are the common food for the poor and the struggling middle class,” the statement reads. “This means that the majority of the listeriosis victims are the voiceless members of our society, those easily forgotten by those in the corridors of corporate power.”

A Call for Corporate Conversion

While welcoming the settlement offer, the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission did not shy away from critiquing Tiger Brands for the protracted delay. “It has been disappointing that Tiger Brands took so long to effectively admit de facto liability and provide much-needed closure to affected families,” the bishops said. However, they noted that the recent development is a sign that “some form of conversion of ‘corporate heart’ can happen in the business sector.”

The Commission sees this as an opportunity for a wider transformation in corporate culture in South Africa, calling for a “new vision of humanity in which powerful companies are called out and held to account when their corporate greed causes massive harm in the lives of the poor.”

A Jubilee of Hope

In the statement, Bishop Mbuyisa CMM also linked the moment to the broader theme of 2025 as the Jubilee Year—a year in the Church marked by hope, mercy, and justice. “We urge Tiger Brands and the class action attorneys to finalize the settlement quickly without unnecessary delays… We therefore make an ethical appeal… that this year should not end without closure and relief for the victims.”

The chairperson of the SACBC Justice and Peace Commision emphasized that no victim should be left behind in the final settlement. “Tiger Brands, the class attorneys, and the Department of Health must take effective measures to guarantee that all victims are able to receive the compensation they deserve.”

Justice Must Not Be Delayed

Drawing on both legal and theological language, the statement warned against drawn-out lawsuits. “In legal circles, they say justice delayed is justice denied. For us in the Church… we declare to all companies involved in class action lawsuits affecting the poorest that when such lawsuits extend beyond three years, we will consider them a moral scandal that needs to be denounced.”

The SACBC Justice and Peace Commission also urged other corporations, particularly coal mining companies involved in lawsuits with sick mine workers, to learn from this case and prioritize justice over profits.

A Prophetic Witness

By standing publicly with the victims of the listeriosis outbreak and insisting on justice, the SACBC Justice and Peace Commission continues to exercise a prophetic role in South Africa’s socio-economic landscape. As the Church continues to preach “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18), this moment underscores the Gospel’s relevance in the struggle for dignity, accountability, and healing in post-apartheid South Africa.

“Our prayer is that the decision today by Tiger Brands sets an example for other companies… These companies should seek fair settlements and stop dragging the cases out for years, which only deepens the suffering of the poor,” the statement concluded.