President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit Jagersfontein in Free State on Monday after an abandoned mine dam burst killing a person and damaged several houses.
Hundreds of people had to be evacuated and housed elsewhere after the wall of the dam collapsed early on Sunday morning.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said there was extensive damage in and around the community of Charlesville.
“Some people are displaced, others lost property, whilst others are reported injured and missing,” Dlamini-Zuma’s ministry said on Monday.
Lungi Mtshali, the spokesperson of CoGTA, said the latest reports indicate that the flow of the water has ceased and noted that the immediate threat is being stabilised.
“The injured persons have been provided with on-scene emergency medical care and are being transported to local hospitals. Assessments are under way to identify and account for all residents of the affected area,” said Mtshali.
Mtshali added that the national disaster management centre [NDMC] is coordinating with the provincial disaster management centre and other stakeholders to ensure that assistance is rendered as required.
“The NDMC has deployed staff members to the affected area to assess the damage and impact and provide direct operational support. The minister urges the deployed teams to do everything required to lessen the negative impact the incident has on communities.”
Close to a thousand species have also been rescued by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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