DWS to Release Explosive Report on Jagersfontein Dam Collapse

A long-awaited report into the deadly 2022 Jagersfontein tailings dam collapse has revealed that the mine’s owners may have known years in advance that the facility was unstable. The investigation commissioned by the Department of Water and Sanitation and conducted by experts from the Universities of Pretoria and Witwatersrand found the dam was built on a weak foundation, with warnings dating back to at least 2019. When the structure gave way, 5.9 million cubic metres of sludge ripped through the Free State community, killing two people, leaving one missing, and destroying homes, infrastructure and the surrounding environment. We also discuss the South African Human Rights Commission report accusing the department of Water & Sanitation of failing to tackle racial and gender bias in land lease allocations at Hartbeespoort Dam. Phemelo speaks to Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo