Another Dam Wall Collapses in Jaggersfontein, Lawyer Says It Could Have Been Prevented

• Another dam wall collapsed in Jagersfontein, Free State, on Tuesday, 27 September following the recent tragedy
• A lawyer representing families affected by the previous collapse said it could have been prevented
• The lawyer claimed that the mining company, Jagersfontein Developments, has done nothing to support residents

FREE STATE - Another dam wall collapsed in Jagersfontein on Tuesday, 27 September, as community members attempted to rebuild their lives following the recent tragedy in the area.

The collapse is suspected to have been caused by heavy downpours recently. However, the lawyer representing families affected by the disaster believes that Tuesday’s incident was preventable.

Lawyer Richard Spoor, who is representing 30 families, told EWN that the inner wall and compartment that didn’t collapse initially were weakened.

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Before the collapse, Spoor said he wrote to the mine and asked for assurances of the measures taken to prevent it from collapsing.

The lawyer claimed that the mining company, Jagersfontein Developments, has done nothing to support the local community.

According to the Daily Sun, the first incident left 250 people displaced, one dead and 70 others hospitalised.

South Africans react to the incident:

@FuthiGama said:

“I feel for the people. The ecological disaster has not been counted.”

@Mr_Khambule178 wrote:

“Smh! People are blaming the government when the majority of these dams are privately owned.”

@IskraRSA added:

“Sorry, this has to be inspected. Something fishy going on.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa promises Jagersfontein residents government support: “we won’t abandon you”

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed the government’s support to Jagersfontein residents after an accident at a mine caused damage to at least 100 homes.

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The accident left one person dead, four missing, and numerous displaced. The president visited the area on Monday, 12 September, following the accident and said the government would attend to the needs of those who lost their household possessions.

According to EWN, Ramaphosa called for calm and said an investigation into the accident would be conducted.

Source: Briefly News