Food company Tiger Brands has presented a settlement offer to attorneys representing plaintiffs in the listeriosis matter.
According to the company, the offer was made by its attorneys QBE Insurance Group Limited to specific classes of claimants who suffered from listeriosis.
The plaintiffs filed a class action against the company following the outbreak of listeriosis in the country in 2017 which affected more than 820 people and claimed 218 lives.
This after they consumed contaminated processed food products, mainly polony and viennas produced at the Tiger Brands facility in Polokwane and distributed from their Germiston facility.
The company said the settlement offer was made on 25 April 2025 and includes an undertaking to pay the claimants’ proven or agreed compensatory damages in terms of section 61 of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008.
“Today’s announcement represents an important milestone and follows shortly on measures already taken in February 2025 to offer interim relief in the form of advance payments to identified claimants with urgent medical needs.
It also demonstrates our commitment to continue to work closely with our insurers and their appointed attorneys to explore a resolution of the entire class action,” said Tjaart Kruger, Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Brands.
Tiger Brands emphasised that the offer is also subjected to certain conditions and has been made without admission of liability and in full and final settlement of the claims of the claimants.
Meanwhile, the plaintiff’s legal representative, Alex Spoor from has called on the company to expand on the settlement offer.
“We consider this offer to constitute an effective admission that they got people sick and are responsible for an outbreak that persisted for a lengthy period.
We know this because the group of persons that Tiger Brands wants to settle, all have detailed genetic sequencing that links claimants’ cases to Tiger Brands Polokwane facility and food produced from this facility.
We believe strongly that Tiger Brands should expand this settlement, to include all parties who were injured over the listeriosis outbreak period, and we would continue to push ahead with litigation until all this is achieved,” said Spoor.
In addition, Spoor said the offer will take several weeks and months to conclude, as it has to be developed by both parties to a fair and effective method.
The Department of Health has welcomed the company’s efforts to settle the class action, adding that it’ll bring closure to the deceased’s families.
“The National Institute of Communicable Disease is providing the required medical records to enable decision-making in the process during the investigation of the listeriosis outbreak.
The Department is also appealing to those with enough evidence suggesting a causal link between the outbreak of listeriosis and the loss of their loved ones, to come forward so that their clinical records can be accessed for assessment to establish if indeed they have valid claims eligible for settlement, and also to find lasting closure after grief,” said the department spokesperson, Foster Mohale.
Listeriosis is a serious, but treatable and preventable disease caused by the bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria is widely distributed in nature and can be found in soil, water and vegetation.
Animal products and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables can be contaminated from these sources.
