According to the Jagersfontein Development Project (JDP) mine's legal compliance officer, Marius de Villiers, “there has been no further breach of any kind at the facility” following the Sunday 11 September 2022 disaster.

On Tuesday night, there were several social media reports alleging that another dam wall at the mine has collapsed, days after being declared a disaster area.

It was later clarified that a water dam, and not a silt dam, has overflowed after heavy rain in the area. The water was running through the neighbourhood of Charlesville and the R706 near Charlesville has been closed. Motorists were advised to use an alternative gravel road to Fauresmith in order to get access to Jagersfontein.

ALSO READ - UPDATED: Dam overflows at Jagersfontein mine

He says due to the incident which occurred on 11 September 2022, the stormwater is flowing in areas where tailings have spilt. De Villiers says the mine has been working tirelessly and remains committed to clean-up operations and continues to cooperate with all authorities, assisting residents and the surrounding community.

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“Officials from the Department responsible for Environmental Affairs were on site with Jagersfontein Development's representatives [earlier this week] to deal with stormwater flows through an adjacent dam as a result of rainfall on Sunday and Monday. The facility continues to be monitored and is stable. As part of the emergency response, Jagersfontein Development has commenced with the pumping of the tailings in compartment 2 of the facility to the pit,” he adds.

The mine has, however, availed R20 million to help and assist affected residents. 

According to the mine spokesperson, Leigh Ann Carey, the money has been made available with immediate effect. "JDP is cooperating with the law enforcement authorities and will offer every assistance to the community while undertaking a full investigation. We have confirmation that the waste water is not hazardous. Jagersfontein Development remains committed to the well-being of the community and will lead clean-up operations," Carey added.

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Earlier, the Office of the Premier, Sisi Ntombela, provided an update on Jagersfontein. "The Department of Social Development has established three profiling teams. A total of 187 households were profiled and it was established that some community members lost all their belongings in their houses. Others were partially affected, whilst others left the town for safety. (Sandstone accommodates 57 people; the President Hotel accommodates 18, and Jagersfontein accommodates 112.) A temporary food and clothing bank has been established and is still in full operation, receiving donations from the different sectors of society on a daily basis. The humanitarian organisations and social partners continue to provide hot meals and bottled water daily,"

However, according to a community leader, Lefa Shale, there is a slow pace from the side of the government but residents are hopeful that all will one day fall back into place and they will know how to carry on with their lives after the disaster. He told OFM News on Tuesday 27 September that they are confident but remain worried that so far there is nothing tangible of the promises from the national and provincial governments. Shale said they hope that the water and electricity issues will be fixed soon to allow residents to live normal lives.

"Now this community is angry to a point whereby they intend to stop everything - meaning the vehicles from Bloemfontein to Jagersfontein - to show that they are fed up with empty promises by our authorities. Now, as I am speaking, there is no electricity in Charlesville, we are using candles and paraffin and the cost of living has now gone high," he adds.

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OFM News previously reported that frustrated residents of Jagersfontein in the Kopanong Local Municipality in the Free State have discussed intentions with so-called big-time Bloemfontein lawyers to sue the JDP following the disaster. 

ALSO READ - #JagersfonteinDisaster: Residents rope in 'big-time' lawyers

Shale, a community leader, said on Thursday 14 September 2022 that some of the residents met with several lawyers to discuss and map the way forward in suing the mine in question.

OFM News