Municipality claims negligence led to Jagersfontein dam collapse
The Trompsburg-based Kopanong Local Municipality in the Free State claims neglect played a big part in the disaster at Jagersfontein, where a wall of the mine's tailings dam collapsed.
The municipality's spokesperson, Solomzi Phama says they believe negligence led to the disaster.
The disaster has also left more than 100 people homeless or destitute, and some of the municipal infrastructure completely destroyed.
Phama says the negligence is something that had been raised by Mayor Xolani Tseletsele, even before he ascended to the position.
He says police and other emergency services have not confirmed the second death following the mudslide, but six to eight people are still missing.
"The mine has been operating but they were not mining because they were only processing. The holding dam cracked in the early hours on Sunday, at 02:00, and then subsequently from 04:00 to 06:00 it burst. Negligence plays a pivotal role that I can confirm. It is a matter that the mayor has been raising since 2012.”
On Sunday, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela's office revised the number of deaths to one instead of three.
In total, 73 patients were treated for injuries at the Diamond District Hospital in Jagersfontein and 16 patients were released.
The rest were kept for further observation.
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