REPORT ON JAGERSFONTEIN MINE DAM DISASTER REVEALS COMPANY'S AWARENESS OF IMPENDING DANGER

Free State Leadership

By: Neo Ntsele

The long-awaited report on the Jagersfontein Development dam collapse reveals that the company might have been aware of the impending danger three years before the incident occurred.

Experts from the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand investigated the dam collapse.

The report was formally presented to Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae.

Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, along with the Mayor of Kopanong Local Municipality Xolani Tseletsele, accompanied the Premier at Mayibuye Hall, Jagersfontein, as she addressed the community.

The report indicates that there is evidence suggesting Jagersfontein Development (PTY) Ltd might have known about the tailings dam's instability.

Initial signs of instability along the dam's southern wall were detected in February 2019 (i.e., over 3 ½ years before the collapse).

The disaster, which occurred on 11 September 2022, resulted in several fatalities, with one person still missing.

Premier Letsoha-Mathae expressed satisfaction that the report was released and, importantly, noted that the government had filed charges with the South African Police Service against the mining company.

“We assured the people of Jagersfontein that we would address this issue, and we are doing so. After witnessing the devastation caused by the mine dam collapse, the government filed a case with the police, and we are pleased that the matter is now in court. The investigation leading to the report was conducted by academic institutions, not the government, ensuring transparency,” said Premier Letsoha-Mathae.

Deputy Minister Mahlobo expressed confidence that the court would rule against the mining company.

“As a responsible government, following President Cyril Ramaphosa's directives, Mayor Tseletsele, Dr Tseliso Ntili (Provincial Head of the Department of Water and Sanitation), and I filed a case against the company to ensure a thorough investigation.

While we cannot discuss the case details since it is in court, we have strong evidence, making it a winnable case,” stated Deputy Minister Mahlobo.