By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Another mine dam wall has collapsed at an abandoned Jagersfontein diamond mine in the Free State.
Jagersfontein is a small town in the Free State that sprung up during the diamond rush of the 1870s.
In the early hours of Sunday, 11 September, tragedy struck after a slime dam wall collapsed near the open-pit mine, causing a mudslide and flooding in several areas in the town.
Kopanong Mayor Xolani Tseletsele said the situation could have been a result of earlier heavy downpours in the area.
Tseletsele said unlike the last time, the dam released water.
Palesa Chubisi, spokesperson for Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela, said: Provincial government is still trying to establish the extent of the water flow. However, it is understood that the water is running through the neighbourhood of Charlesville and the nearby Dennis Louw farm.
Chubisi said the R706 was closed to traffic and motorists were advised to use alternative roads.
“The police and emergency services are on the scene. Premier Ntombela has called [on] the community not to panic as the provincial disaster team has been activated to the affected area,” Chubisi said.
Hundreds of residents were left homeless after the first dam wall collapse in Jagersfontein, more than two weeks ago.
Ralehana Aaron Mosoeu, 78, died in the disaster, while Mantele Mokhali, 50, and Shadrack Williams, 70, were still unaccounted for.
The sludge wiped out 164 backyard vegetable gardens.
Fourteen smallholder and commercial farmers on 29 farms were left devastated after the Prosesspruit and Kromellenboogspruit rivers they live along were polluted.