The police have confirmed the incident but say details around the accident are still sketchy and will be divulged at a later stage. The incident comes a few days after a 62-year-old elderly man was found dead in a pool of water between Charlesville and Itumeleng, known as Skoti. He went missing on Friday last week and was found on Saturday 22 October 2022.

ALSO READ: Body found in Jagersfontein not related to mine disaster

According to Police Spokesperson, Mahlomola Kareli, the police were alerted to the scene where this 62-year-old victim was found at around 11:00. He said members of Jagersfontein Crime Prevention were busy with crime prevention duties when one community member stopped their vehicle indicating a body in the water. Kareli says members went to the scene between Charlesville and Itumeleng where the body was found. The emergency services were called to the scene and the victim was declared deceased.

The police have since opened an inquest and investigations will be guided by the availability of post-mortem results. Two people died in the mine disaster, one is still missing, scores were left injured, over 200 people were displaced and over 100 homes were destroyed. The authorities are still searching for the last person reported missing after the incident.

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During a media briefing at the OR Tambo House, Premier Sisi Ntombela reiterated the provincial government’s efforts to find the remaining missing woman.

Community leader, Lefa Shale, says the community has now had enough of the latest incidents taking place in the area.  

Shale previously said for years the Jagersfontein Development Project (JDP), whose mine dam collapsed, neglected its mandatory community development programme. He said residents were left to struggle whilst the mine thrived.

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“We, as the community, expect something from the mine but nothing was ever given to the community and Jagersfontein is as you see it. This community is (angry) to the extent that they wanted to meet with the manager of the mine. Unfortunately, we never met or saw them since this disaster took place. We are really disappointed and angry but don’t know what will happen going forward because now we don’t even have electricity, we don’t have anything,” he said.

Workers of the mine recently received several text messages from the mine management, perceived as being threatening.

According to an anonymous source, the mine has allegedly been threatening 200 workers to report for duty, despite the area being declared a disaster area by the National Disaster Management Centre after vigorous consultations with the provincial government. “How can we work if there is no work? Our contracts said no work no pay. But we feel this is a disaster, we cannot get the blame for that,” the source said.

ALSO READ: Mine tells workers 'no work, no pay', despite being declared a disaster area

The text message the anonymous source showed OFM News, reads: "Dear employee, as communicated to you, your union officials, shop stewards and employees representatives on various occasions. Your failure to return to work will be handled on a no-work-no-pay basis. The company reserves all of its rights."

This is a developing story.

OFM News