Premier Sisi Ntombela received a donation of blankets and food parcels from the office of the Chinese Consul-General in South Africa.

The deputy consul-general, Yujiang Zhou, who led the delegation, met with the Premier and the Free State Director-General, Kopung Ralikontsane.

So far 200 food parcels, 147 blankets and 20 000 litres of water per day, for a duration of about two weeks, were donated. “Water is the main priority as the community has been left without water and electricity since the tragedy,” the Consulate said in a media statement.  

Ntombela stated that the people from China have “once again demonstrated their genuine friendship with South Africans”.

“I am certain the people of Jagersfontein will receive the donation with warmth and appreciation.”

Zhou said at the hand-over of the donations that the small town of Jagersfontein was affected negatively by the pandemic and this has set them back even further, with consideration that the small population already has an 80% unemployment rate.

"There is a lot more work that needs to be done in rebuilding that community, and this is just our part to play in assisting however we can."

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinDisaster: Aid provided to assist flood-stricken community

The Free State government has been delivering much-needed aid to affected residents of Jagersfontein since the day of the incident. Ntombela appealed to residents not to panic after pledging to support and help all affected families.

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinDisaster: FSG impresses Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa applauded Ntombela's immediate reaction to the collapsed mine dam wall which left over 200 families homeless in Jagersfontein. “It proves that different spheres of government can deliver services to residents when they work together,” he said at the time.

ALSO READ: Millions made available to #JagersfonteinDisaster victims

Over 200 families have been affected and have since been taken to Fauresmith, a few kilometers from Jagersfontein.

The spokesperson for the Jagersfontein Development mine, Leigh-Ann Carey, has since stated that R20 million has been made available with immediate effect.

"The mine is cooperating with law enforcement authorities and will offer every assistance to the community while undertaking a full investigation. We have confirmation that the wastewater is not hazardous. Jagersfontein Development remains committed to the well-being of the community and will lead clean-up operations," she said.

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinDisaster victims talk about their traumatic experience

One of the flood victims, Tshepiso Ngubeni, previously told OFM News that residents were hopeful that President Cyril Ramaphosa would not only speak about intervention by providing residents with food parcels, but also about what actually will be done to address the issue of houses that were lost in the floods. 

He called on mine representatives to take responsibility for what had happened. Ngubeni also detailed how he and his family survived the traumatic incident.

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinDisaster: 'For years we've never benefited' - community leader

A community leader of the Itumeleng Location, Lefa Shale, told OFM News that for years the Jagersfontein Development Project (JDP) neglected its mandatory community development programme. He said residents were left to struggle whilst the mine thrived. 

Shale also alleged that "some politicians with a particular interest in the operation of the mine, have aided the mine to thrive whilst residents were left to live in squalor conditions".

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinDisaster: ‘Proper leadership lacked in assessing mine’ - BMF

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Black Management Forum (BMF) in the Free State, Mosebetsi Dhladhla, said the managerial leadership of the Department of Mineral Resources, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and the Department of Water and Sanitation should have taken a closer look to see if those tasked with certain aspects as far as the mine is concerned, fully complied with the law.

OFM News