Walking along an underground tunnel at the South Deep gold mine are miners wearing safety gear.

According to the Catholic Church, it is guiding a class-action case through the legal system on behalf of coal miners with lung disease against mining firms in South Africa.

Lawyers submitted documents to South Africa's High Court on Tuesday, according to the Southern African Bishops Conference on Wednesday.

Representing the miners is Richard Spoors, an attorney renowned for his successful history of securing compensation in similar instances.

Initiated on behalf of 17 current and former mine workers, this lawsuit is directed at major mining entities: BHP, its subsidiary South32, and South Africa's Seriti. According to Dasantha Pillay, a lawyer at Spoors's law firm, who spoke to the Agence France-Presse news agency, the case seeks redress for individuals who have toiled for these corporations since 1965 and who have suffered from lung diseases. The suit also includes family members of workers who succumbed to illnesses triggered by coal dust.

As of now, the mentioned companies have not yet responded to AFP's inquiry for comment.

The church has revealed that it instigated and facilitated this lawsuit subsequent to being approached by mine workers seeking assistance.

Coal stands as a cornerstone of South Africa's economy, employing nearly 100,000 individuals and contributing to 80 percent of electricity generation. This industry is predominantly concentrated in the eastern Mpumalanga region, an area Greenpeace, an environmental advocacy group, identifies as having some of the most polluted air worldwide.

The collective legal action alleges that despite being aware of the hazards faced by coal miners, the implicated companies neglected to provide sufficient training, proper equipment, and a secure working environment for their workforce.