This, after the Kopanong Local Municipality spokesperson, Solomzi Phama, confirmed that the municipality has suffered damage to its infrastructure estimated at millions, as a result of the mine sludge following a collapsed mine dam wall three weeks ago. OFM News previously reported that a source in the upper echelons of the Trompsburg-based Kopanong Local Municipality has confirmed that the council is yet to sit and convene with intentions of applying for a lawsuit against the aforementioned mine.

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Disgruntled residents of Jagersfontein, who have been left homeless or destitute, had also discussed intentions to sue the mine. Community leader Lefa Shale stated that on Thursday 14 September 2022 some of the residents met with several lawyers to discuss and map the way forward in suing the mine in question

Meanwhile, Phama says the municipality is relying on the provincial government to mitigate talks between the municipality and the mine.

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“The mayor has since interacted with the Office of the Premier in terms of starting bilateral[talk]s of how the whole process of ensuring that we restore the lives of our people will translate and move forward. However, of greater emphasis from the mayor and the council, is that we then need to start bilateral talks with the mine bosses themselves to see what we are going to move forward with, what it is that they are committing financially. That, in itself - we are relying on the provincial government in facilitating those meetings or talks with the mine bosses.”

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The mine's legal compliance officer, Marius de Villiers, says there has been no further breach of any kind at the facility following the Sunday 11 September 2022 disaster. This after several social media reports on Tuesday night, alleging that another dam wall at the mine had collapsed, days after being declared a disaster area.

UPDATED: Dam overflows at Jagersfontein mine

Kopanong Local Municipality Mayor, Xolani Tseletsele, and the provincial government 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 was closed. Motorists were advised to use an alternative gravel road to Fauresmith in order to get access to Jagersfontein.

Jagersfontein Development Project (JDP) Mine has earlier availed R20 million to help and assist affected residents.

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Two people are still missing whilst infrastructure and property damage of both residents and the said municipality are running into millions of rands. Both the national and provincial governments have promised to help the residents to rebuild their lives.

OFM News