2022 Jagersfontein dam collapse

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2022 Jagersfontein dam collapse
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2022 Jagersfontein dam collapse (South Africa)
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2022 Jagersfontein dam collapse (Free State (South African province))
Date11 September 2022
Time06:00 (SAST)
Location Jagersfontein, Free State, South Africa
Coordinates 29°46′30″S25°25′39″E / 29.77500°S 25.42750°E / -29.77500; 25.42750
CauseStructural failure
Deaths5 [1] [2]
Non-fatal injuriesOver 300 [1] [2]
MissingOver 9 [1] [2]
Property damageOver 100 Houses, Road and Rail Infrastructure, Water and Electricity Distribution Networks [1] [2]
DisplacedOver 1000 People [1] [2]

The 2022 Jagersfontein Tailings Dam Collapse was a structural failure of a mine tailings dam near Jagersfontein, located in the Free State province of South Africa, resulting in a mudslide. [3] [4] [1] [2] [5]

Contents

Background

The Jagersfontein Mine is currently the deepest hand-excavated hole in the world and is known for:

For the duration of the mine's operational history, it was run by De Beers up to 1972, when it was deproclaimed. De Beers did however retain prospecting rights on the property until 2002.

Limited remining operations at the mine were eventually started in September 2010 by a company named Son Op before it changed its name to Jagersfontein Development. Reinet Investments of Luxembourg became involved around 2011, but eventually sold out to Stargems Group around early 2022. [7]

A court case, De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd v Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd, related to historic dumps were found not subject to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. All standard National Environmental Management Act processes however still applied. [8]

Tailings Dam Collapse

On 11 September 2022, the dam wall collapsed due to a structural failure. [9] [10] [11] About nine houses were swept away by the mudslide and more than 20 damaged. [12] Three bodies were found buried under mud and up to 40 people been taken to hospital after sustaining injuries. [13] Four people were confirmed missing. [14] [12] [15]

At 6:00 am on 12 September 2022, Eskom was able to restore power to the town. [5] On 12 September 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a special visit to the town. [16] [11] On 28 September 2022, there was another collapse at the site. [17] [18]

On August 2025, 5 suspects, who are employed by an engineering company, faced charges of murder, malicious damage to property and contravention of the Health and Safety Act, said Zweli Mohobeleli, the spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) in the Free State. [19]

Jagersfontein Mine dam before collapse.jpg
The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 acquired the image on 10 September 2022, the day before the dam collapse.
Jagersfontein Mine dam after collapse.jpg
Almost one month after the collapse, satellite images show that the landscape remains altered by the coating of sludge. The Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9 acquired this image on 4 October 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'Assessment warned of dam failure, but no steps were taken to protect community'". CapeTalk. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "South Africa mine dam collapse kills three, injures over 40". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  3. ↑ Njini, Felix (11 September 2022). "Dam Collapse at Abandoned South African Diamond Mine Kills Three". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "'Assessment warned of dam failure, but no steps were taken to protect community'". 702. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Eskom hopes to return power to Jagersfontein by Tuesday | eNCA". www.enca.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Streeter, Edwin (1898). Precious Stones and Gems - Their History, Sources and Characteristics. George Bell & Sons. p. 105. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "IOL: Free State town forgotten in history". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd v Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd and Others (3215/06) [2007] ZAFSHC 74 (13 December 2007)". Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  9. ↑ Makhaza, Xanderleigh Dookey. "Jagersfontein mine dam collapse: What we know so far". Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Njilo, Nonkululeko (11 September 2022). "JAGERSFONTEIN TRAGEDY: Free State mine dam burst floods kill three; four people critically injured". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  11. 1 2 Petersen, Tammy. "Free State dam disaster: Compensation for damage the responsibility of company that owns it - Mantashe". News24. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Dam collapse at massive abandoned mine in South Africa leads to flash flood that sweeps away 9 houses, kills at least 3 – Fortune". Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Bega, Sheree (12 September 2022). "Jagersfontein: How mine dams collapse". The Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "DEVELOPING | Jagersfontein floods: Mantashe to visit area on Tuesday as Ramaphosa confirms govt probe". News24. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Ramaphosa visits Jagersfontein to assess damage after mine dam collapse". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  16. ↑ Staff Writer (12 September 2022). "Jagersfontein mine owner Stargems says tailings facility was 'safe and secure'". Miningmx. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  17. ↑ "Residents urged 'not to panic' after Jagersfontein hit by another dam wall collapse".
  18. ↑ "Another dam wall collapse in Jagersfontein | eNCA".
  19. ↑ Bega, Sheree (27 August 2025). "Five to finally face charges for Jagersfontein tailings dam disaster". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
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