South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has concluded its investigation into the tailings dam collapse that occurred at the Jagersfontein diamond mine in Free State province in September 2022.
The DWS initiated legal action against the Jagersfontein Development in November 2022 for the release of slimes and mine process waste materials, that caused water pollution or had the potential to do so, following the collapse of the tailings storage facility (TSF).
The catastrophic collapse of the tailings dam not only led to the loss of lives, but also caused significant destruction to homes, water sources, and the environment.
The DWS mandated Jagersfontein Development to urgently appoint an approved professional person (APP) to quickly empty compartment two of the TSF.
This measure was crucial to prevent a potential secondary tragedy caused by the large amounts of tailings still present in the compartment.
The APP conducted a thorough analysis of the potential breach of compartment two in the tailings dam, to assist Jagersfontein Development with the decommissioning process.
According to the DWS report, the decanting of compartment two commenced in August 2023, and until the completion of this process, the tailings dam is considered unsafe.
De Beers sold the Jagersfontein diamond mine and tailings in 2010 to Superkolong Consortium, which comprised black investors.
However, Stargems bought the mine and the surrounding dry tailings dumps in April 2022 and remains the owner and operator through Jagersfontein Development, its South African subsidiary.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
