Samancor ‘takes full responsibility’ following Brits tailings dam collapse
Concerns remain about the environmental impact of the sludge spill at Samancor’s Dikwena mine near Brits in the North West.
Last Thursday, Dam 1B of the chrome mine’s tailings storage collapsed, sending sludge cascading into the neighbouring Eland Mine’s Maroelabult shaft and surrounding areas.
Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, accompanied by his deputy Phumzile Mgcina and Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, visited the area on Monday.
Mantashe confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported.
“We’re very lucky that there were no fatalities. There’s a disaster, but there’s no death. What is an issue is that Samancor lowered its guard in supervising the contractors. The contractors handled the slime dam in a reckless way. They saw seepage over three months ago, but they allowed it until there was this slime release.”
Nearby communities were affected by the collapse of Eskom power lines and the obstruction of the slip road from the R566.
Samancor’s chief executive officer, Desmond McManus, said that while a third party was operating the dam, the company takes full responsibility for the clean-up and rehabilitation operations.
“We take full responsibility for the investigation and remain committed to making sure that this type of incident never happens. We’ve already made an assessment; we’re busy calculating the costs for rehabilitation and infrastructure.
“As we speak, we’re busy repairing some of the electrical infrastructure in the area, and the access roads to our neighbouring mines. We’re going to continue to do this as soon as possible to prevent any further contamination,” McManus told reporters.
Verbal directives have been issued by both the minerals and water and sanitation departments, and both have confirmed that these will now be issued in writing.
Directives issued by the water and sanitation department include the cessation of deposits of tailings in any of the mine’s tailings facilities while investigations into the failure continue.
[VIDEO] Birdseye view of the damage. Authorities say it’s still too early to estimate the cost of the damage. #SamancorDikwenaTailingsFailure #Brits pic.twitter.com/FVGo8yDUqA
— Jacaranda FM Newswatch (@JacaNewswatch) August 17, 2026
INVESTIGATION OUTCOMES TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS
Following an aerial inspection of the affected site, Deputy Minister Mahlobo said they were satisfied that the spillage had been contained.
However, investigations into the cause of the spill and the resultant damage and impact on the local environment were continuing.
“As part of our approach, we’ve agreed that a formal investigation will be done, jointly with the government, to look at the magnitude and whether there are issues of negligence on the part of those operating the system,” he said.
There are specific concerns about the underground water and a nearby tributary that could affect the irrigation systems of the surrounding agricultural holdings.
However, Mahlobo said, on face value, it appeared the water body was not affected.
“I thought the water went into the river, but that’s not a river; it's just a wetland. We’re still interested in getting more information on whether there’s an impact on groundwater or not.”
Mantashe, Mgcina and Mahlobo were accompanied by the chief inspector of mines, David Msiza.
The mine also said it would get an independent professional to assess the slime dam facility and to conduct an impact assessment.
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