Jagersfontein: The technical investigation into the failure of the Jagersfontein Fine Tailings Storage Facility (FTSF) has found that the owner of the tailings dam, Jagersfontein Development (Pty) Ltd, may have been aware of structural instability along the southern wall. Water and Sanitation Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo officially released the long-awaited findings, which were presented to residents of Jagersfontein more than three years after the catastrophic collapse on 11 September 2022, resulted in the tragic loss of life, leaving scores of people homeless as well as pollution of the environment and water resources.
According to South African Government News Agency, the delegation, which included Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and Kopanong Local Municipality Mayor Xolani Tseletsele, met community members at the Mayibuye Community Hall, where they relayed the findings of the report to the community. The technical investigation, conducted by experts from the University of Pretoria (UP) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), found that the owner of the tailings dam, Jagersfontein Development (Pty) Ltd, may have been aware of structural instability along the southern wall as early as 2019.
The report states that the company attempted to stabilise the slope by adding large volumes of material, which proved ineffective, yet continued to raise the dam wall and deposit more tailings into the dam. The investigation further indicates that the construction and raising of the tailing's storage facility were based on conceptual designs, with no detailed designs done to ensure safe construction. Additionally, no construction supervision by a registered engineering professional was present.
When the dam breached on the southern wall, one compartment collapsed, releasing approximately 5.9 million cubic meters of fine tailings downstream, causing flooding and destruction of infrastructure and property, including power lines. Two people were confirmed dead, and one person remains missing and is presumed dead.
The report also identified critical engineering and regulatory failures, including the absence of detailed engineering designs and lack of supervision by a registered engineering professional. Part of the southern wall was built on a pre-existing tailings dump of low structural strength, resulting in a weak foundation that significantly contributed to the collapse.
Addressing the community, Deputy Minister Mahlobo expressed his preference for the mine's closure due to non-compliance with government directives. However, he acknowledged the need to balance job preservation and safety, as the mine provides employment opportunities to some residents. "It is a fine balancing act, saving jobs and saving lives," Mahlobo stated.