Tailing dams are a ticking time bomb
Makhotla Sefuli
After the disaster of 11th September 2022 that took place in Jagersfontein, it has come to the attention of all mine-hosting communities that tailing storage facilities are a ticking time bomb. Mining companies’ lack of proper maintenance and monitoring of tailings poses a danger to the hosting communities.
Our Bench Marks lead researcher, Mr David van Wyk, echoed the same sentiments in his presentation on Phytoremediation to the Mosala Secondary School. The mine tailings are a common sight for us daily; they are not maintained, which has been evident during the recent months of strong winds and cold. The residents continue to live under clouds of dust every day, and no one is taking responsibility for these facilities. The communities are engulfed by the clouds of dust from these tailings.
Nyakallong is surrounded by not less than five tailing storage facilities that used to belong to Anglo American Corporation, the sad truth is that one of the tailings is showing early signs of decantation. The question is “Whose responsibility it is to maintain those tailing facilities?
The highlight of the presentation was when Mr van Wyk pointed out that there is a possibility of an ancient African village among those tailings, which means that we are living next to an archaeological site that still has to be visited and explored. The teachers and the learners were very excited to learn about the possibility of discovering an archaeological site and being part of the project.
It is our goal as the monitoring school to be part of this project from the beginning to the end, it will also be an honor to take part in such a breakthrough in the archaeological history of South Africa. We want Mosala Secondary School to have its name etched in the books of history as the pioneer of archaeology around the Lejoeleputsoa district.
This discovery will also highlight the plight of the people who were dispossessed of their land during the process of the industrial revolution in South Africa. As the BMF CMS we want to ensure that mining companies take responsibility for the suffering they put our ancestors.
