Deputy President Paul Mashatile has praised the Free State provincial government, the Kopanong Local Municipality, and the Jagersfontein Development Project for progress achieved in coordinating support to address the challenges communities face in Jagersfontein.

This follows the collapse of a tailings dam wall in 2022, resulting in a mudslide which damaged infrastructure and homes in the area.

The responsibility to provide leadership in implementing rapid response interventions on service delivery and troubleshooting in service delivery hotspots has been delegated to the Deputy President by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Deputy President undertook a service delivery oversight visit to Jagersfontein, last year in May, as part of efforts towards finding a lasting solution to service delivery challenges in the municipality.

He focused mainly on the efficient and equitable water supply and the resettlement of community members affected by the Jagersfontein Development Project dam disaster.

‘The visit by Dep
uty President Mashatile brought together various role players such, as government, private sector as well as civil society representatives, to deliberate on various mechanisms aimed at improving the functioning of municipality and in particular, on efforts to address the concerns raised by the community of Jagersfontein,’ said the Presidency in a statement on Wednesday.

The Deputy President has since expressed his appreciation to all key roleplayers, for the progress achieved.

He also took the time to particularly thank the management of the Jagersfontein Development Project for delivering on their promise to urgently build houses for the affected community members.

‘The remarkable progress we continue to make brings us closer towards restoring better living conditions for the people of Jagersfontein. Such progress bears testimony that working together through partnership between government and the private sector, we can create a better life for all our citizens,’ said Deputy President Mashatile.

The coun
try’s second-in-command further emphasised the importance of expediting the process of addressing all other outstanding critical matters of water supply challenges experienced by residents, agricultural support needed, as well as responding to the educational needs of youth in the area.

Source : South African Government News Agency