The Deputy Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo on Friday 4 November 2022 open a criminal case against the Jagersfontein Development Mine.
The disaster in Jagersfontein after the slimes dam wall collapse caused pollution to the environment and water resources. Furthermore, the disaster threatened livelihoods and left people homeless, and led to the loss of life.
As a result, DWS took a decision to implement administrative enforcement measures and issued a Directive dated 12 September 2022 in terms of Section 20 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (hereinafter ‘NWA’). This Directive pertains to the release of a substance (slime/Mine process waste materials) that pollutes or has the potential to pollute or have a detrimental effect on a water resource and contains the required actions that the responsible person had to undertake in order to remedy the effects of the incident.
DWS is now also embarking on a parallel process to the administrative enforcement by intending to open a criminal case for contraventions of the NWA.
