FORENSIC investigator Paul O’Sullivan and Forensics For Justice plan to open criminal dockets against Tiger Brands related to the 180 known deaths caused by listeriosis, and 479 related incidents in which people became sick.
O’Sullivan said he expected the number of listeriosis-
linked deaths to rise to 500 due to cases that could have slipped through the cracks in the public health system.
He said they would work with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to finalise the exact number of deaths and illnesses.
The criminal dockets would include charges of attempted murder and culpable homicide.
“I can tell you now that I don’t believe that the number of deaths is 180. It’s a lot higher than that. It’s a lot like the fire that took place at Grenfell Towers (in London). The day after, they were saying that 18 people died, but the final figure was close to 100.
Initial
“After New York’s 9/11 (attacks), the initial figure was 1000 deaths, but the final figure was just more than 3000.
“People who are victims to lesser-known crimes tend not to report it, and in this case my estimation is that the listeriosis deaths could easily jump to 500 because of unreported cases at public hospitals,” he said.
Forensics For Justice has set up a page on its website and a toll-free number, 0800118 118, where the families of unreported victims of listeriosis can contact the non-profit organisation.
Their efforts to open criminal cases will run together with the class action that human rights lawyer Richard Spoor is initiating against Tiger Brands.
Two weeks ago, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the source of the listeriosis outbreak came from Tiger Brands' Enterprise production facility in Polokwane, Limpopo.