Jagersfontein communities human rights violation due to diamond mining

Thabo Ishmael Choledi

As a community, we have gone through a lot just because of a diamond mine operation that has
violated our human rights at all costs, as human beings we are entitled to a clean or respected
environment, and also the people should take care and maintenance of the environment. Still,
unfortunately, our environment has been vandalized by the same mining operations, which has
also caused a serious climate change that is playing a huge role in changing our lives and life
has become difficult because of that, which is not recognizing the land and the people, now the
rain is not falling. Life is difficult for human beings and animals, also our environment is being
filled with dangerous toxic mine sludge and our river system is being destroyed. As a result of
human rights violations and the environmental impact which are most human rights violations to
the community of Jagersfontein.

We lodged our complaints to the relevant authorities to protest against our human rights
violation, but to this day nothing is happening and there are no answers for us as a community.
Every complaint about the mine disappeared without being noticed, and from 2015 I was
abused by the mine manager until 2022 I nearly drowned in the mining disaster during the dam
burst, but I can assure you that till today I have never been recognized by those in power, I and
my family are suffering due to the injuries and the loss of a job I went through just only for the
truth of fighting for right things to happen, that’s why I believe that our human rights were
violated and the commission of human rights does not recognize our concerns that’s why we
want reparation and compensation.