An independent investigation into the collapse of the Jagersfontein mine tailings dam in the Free State that killed three people in September 2022 found that it was foreseeable and preventable after years of visible instability along the dam wall.
The report by the universities of Pretoria and the Witwatersrand was released on Friday. It found that the collapse was the result of long-term engineering failures, ignored warning signs, and critical lapses in regulatory oversight.
Five individuals, including engineers, a compliance officer, and an operations manager, face serious charges in the high court next year, including murder, malicious property damage, and contravention of the Health and Safety Act.
