President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the Jagersfontein area today where flooding from a disused mine has caused the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes and the death of at least one person.
On Sunday evening, the Free State government confirmed the single death and added that at least 40 people have also been hospitalised with two others missing.
“The President’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of three people who lost their lives in the incident which allegedly involved a pipe burst from a mine at Jagersfontein around dawn [on Sunday].
“The President wishes injured survivors a speedy recovery and a positive outcome in the search for missing residents of the Charlesville neighbourhood. The President appreciates the rescue and recovery efforts in which emergency services and police from towns surrounding the mine and from Mangaung are engaged,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Eskom says it has experienced a total loss of supply to Centlec – the electricity distributor to the town – due to the mudslide.
Three more users on another feed have also been affected and the Jagersfontein mine are also without power.
“Due to the current situation in the Jagersfontein area and inaccessibility of our substation, it is impossible to estimate when supply will be restored or to determine the extent of the damage. Since Eskom’s telecommunication system is also affected by the flood, the impact on surrounding networks is unclear. Any meaningful updates will be promptly communicated.
“Electricity users are urged to treat all electrical lines sockets and appliances as live and dangerous. We wish to express our sincere condolences to those affected by this catastrophic event and commend emergency services for their swift response,” Eskom said.
A multidisciplinary team was on Sunday dispatched to Jagersfontein, Free State, following the burst of an abandoned mine in the area.
The burst saw significant damage inflicted on infrastructure, personal property and homes. While media reports initially said three people were killed in the disaster, the Free State government this morning revised the death toll to one.
Jagersfontein is in the Kopanong Local Municipality in the Xhariep District Municipality.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, expressed sadness at the incident, which occurred at about 6am on Sunday.
The ministry said there was extensive damage in and around the community of Charlesville in Jagersfontein, which has negatively impacted the community.
“Some people are displaced, others lost property, whilst others are reported injured and missing,” the ministry said.
CoGTA said the multi-disciplinary team deployed to the area consists of the South African Police Service, emergency medical services, health, disaster management, social development, search and rescue personnel and engineers from the mine.
At the scene, personnel conducted search, rescue, immediate relief and stabilisation operations.
CoGTA spokesperson, Lungi Mtshali, said: “The reports received thus far are that the flow of the water has ceased and 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 underway to identify and account for all residents of the affected area.”
Mtshali said the National Disaster Management Centre is coordinating with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) 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.”
Dlamini Zuma expressed appreciation for the role played by the provincial leadership led by the Premier in providing support and assistance to the affected communities.
The Minister also urged communities to remain calm, and urged those unaffected people in Jagersfontein, who are able to lend a hand to those negatively affected by the incident, to do so.
“The media and the community will be regularly apprised of the latest developments on the ground,” Mtshali said. – SAnews.gov.za
