The communities of the Jagersfontein-Charlesville area in the Free State are reeling after a mining dam burst, resulting in one person dying, four more have disappeared, and at least 16 houses have been completely washed away.
Aside from the personal disaster, an environmental specialist has cautioned residents to avoid contact with the flood water, which has covered the town in grey sludge.
The Midday Report host Mandy Wiener spoke with Carin Bosman, a Water Governance Expert, about what led to the disaster and how it could have been prevented. She indicated that government was aware of the unsafe conditions at the talings dam, and had tried to get Jagersfontein Development to improve their operations.
