Johannesburg 12 September : A dam for mining was sunk in the central region of South Africa on Sunday morning, as the floods caused by the collapse damaged infrastructure and homes according to the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA).The South African government has deployed various departments in Jagersfontein, in Free State province, following the rupture of the dam, which killed three and injuring more than 40 people, according to CoGTA spokesperson Lungi Mtshali.
According to CoGTA they have provided emergency medical assistance to police, health, disaster management social development and search and rescue workers as well as engineers.Xinhua news agency reported.
“The the tailings of the mine that was abandoned exploded, which caused damage to personal property, infrastructure and homes.The unimaginable damages in and around the township of Charlesville in Jagersfontein are vast and have adverse effects on the community.
Some residents are forced to relocate and others have lost their property while others are missing and injured,” said the spokesperson.
Lungi Mtshali said the disaster management team has been sent to evaluate the impact and damage and provide direct operational assistance.
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe gave a live press conference on Sunday stating that the government would ensure the law follows its course in the wake of the incident.He stated that they have dispatched inspectors to the site to gather the details of the incident.
“The mine’s owner of the mine assumes the most accountability in providing compensation to victims of deaths as well as damage to property and infrastructure,” he said, adding that the toxic materials on the dam would have negative effects on the natural environment.
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