DWS to Release Explosive Report on Jagersfontein Dam Collapse

Loading player...
A long-awaited report into the deadly 2022 Jagersfontein tailings dam collapse has revealed that the mine’s owners may have known years in advance that the facility was unstable. The investigation commissioned by the Department of Water and Sanitation and conducted by experts from the Universities of Pretoria and Witwatersrand found the dam was built on a weak foundation, with warnings dating back to at least 2019. When the structure gave way, 5.9 million cubic metres of sludge ripped through the Free State community, killing two people, leaving one missing, and destroying homes, infrastructure and the surrounding environment. We also discuss the South African Human Rights Commission report accusing the department of Water & Sanitation of failing to tackle racial and gender bias in land lease allocations at Hartbeespoort Dam. Phemelo speaks to Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo
1 Dec 2025 3PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

Music Feature: Tupac

On this week’s Music Feature, musicologist Dr Sheldon Leal looks at Tupac Shakur’s life, career and lasting influence nearly 30 years after his death. We also reflect on the rapper’s recent murder conviction, following a jury finding Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in Tupac’s killing. We revisit…
3 Sep 3PM 26 min

What To Watch: Untold: Raygun, The Gentlemen 2

On this week’s What to Watch, Leroy Marc reviews Untold: Raygun – Breaking Badly on Netflix, The Gentlemen 2, also on Netflix, and Prima Facie, running at the Market Theatre from 17 September to 4 October and much more.
3 Sep 3PM 12 min

FNB Art Joburg returns for its 19th edition

FNB Art Joburg returns to the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing together leading African galleries, emerging artists and collectors. We look at what’s new this year and what visitors can expect from the fair with FNB Events Marketing Lead Nkosana Matyeshana.
3 Sep 3PM 8 min

National Council on GBVF sets priorities to tackle violence against women

The newly operationalised National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has set out its priorities, including better coordination of the country’s response to GBVF, stronger accountability and identifying the resources needed to tackle the crisis. This comes as government highlights the scale of violence against women, with more than 50,000…
3 Sep 3PM 9 min

Nokuthula Simelane’s story sparks new call for justice

The story of Nokuthula Simelane, who was abducted and disappeared more than 40 years ago, has sparked renewed calls for justice and accountability. Her story was remembered at a gathering at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, where her family reflected on her disappearance and the need to keep her…
3 Sep 2PM 16 min