Anglo American faces apartheid suit (April 14, 2003)

U.S. lawyer Edward Fagan, known mostly for forcing Swiss banks into a US$1.25-billion settlement for Holocaust victims, has filed suit in a U.S. court for up to US$6.1 billion in damages against Anglo American and its wholly owned diamond business De Beers, on behalf of thousands of victims of apartheid.

It is the first such lawsuit against a major South African corporation, and follows several others against foreign banks and companies accused of encouraging human rights abuses by trading in the former white-ruled South Africa.

Anlgo has rejected the allegations and vowed to defend itself against the court actions.

In February, U.S. lawyers for South Africa-based Apartheid Debt and Reparations Campaign filed suit against seven foreign banks and 13 corporations in a New York City court. The suit seeks damages for six South Africans who say they are victims of the apartheid regime that the targeted firms are alleged to have abetted. The companies reject the claims.

In November 2002, South African activists filed suit in a Brooklyn federal court against 20 global companies for allegedly encouraging human rights abuses by trading in formerly white-ruled South Africa.

The suit was filed on behalf of 85 victims of apartheid by the Khulumani victims’ rights group and anti-debt campaigners Jubilee South Africa.

The list includes foreign banks Credit Suisse, Barclays, Citigroup, oil firms Exxon Mobil and Shell, auto makers Ford and General Motors, and computer giant IBM.