More than a year after disaster struck the Jagersfontein community in the Free State, farmers in the area remain exposed, while some residents still wait on housing they were promised.
On Sunday, 11 September 2022, 45 farmers had to watch in agony as their livelihoods were destroyed by the mine’s sludgy by-product which swept through the community of Jagersfontein. A total of 200 sheep and calves were washed away and about 1 000 hectares of land were destroyed.
Albertus van Schalkwyk, chairperson of the Jagersfontein Agricultural Association, told Food For Mzansi that most of the spillage affected the communal farmers nearest to the dam, including both small-scale and commercial farmers.
Irrigation barriers
“The big problem is that a few farmers with irrigation land along the river cannot irrigate because of the high salt content in the water,” explained Van Schalkwyk.
“That makes things difficult for them, and cleaning the river is extremely difficult. There is a directive that was put on the land that was affected so they can’t farm around the areas that were affected by the dam spillage.”
About 13 farmers were affected.
Support to farmers
Free State department of agriculture’s spokesperson Zimasa Mbewu confirmed most damages were on the grazing land, fences, access farm roads, livestock, and irrigation pumps. The department has intervened with farmer support, she said.
“It should be indicated upfront that this is not the first intervention by the department as almost R6 million was committed in the previous financial year (2022/2023) to assist the affected farming community,” she said.
“The remainder of the funds will be utilised to rehabilitate a section of the access road to one farmer that was affected, and to make provision for stock watering to the 43 commonage farmers.”
Mbewu blamed the delays during this financial year due to procurement processes. This, she said, normally takes time because compliance and quality checks are key factors in the process.
Housing remains a question
According to Van Schalkwyk, housing promised to affected residents is yet to be seen.
“We were told by former deputy president David Mabuza that at the end of November last year, people who were affected by housing would be assisted. But the housing is still not finished. That is one of the biggest concerns, housing for the community members,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk said it was unfair that promises were not kept. “All those people need to rent elsewhere and make another plan.”
During his visits to the town, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “Government will help in every way possible to everyone who lost their homes. Yes, we will make sure your homes are rebuilt.
“Nothing will stop us from making sure that those who lost their homes are assisted. Even if you lost a knife or your underwear, we will make sure you get your underwear back.”
Deputy president spokesperson Vukani Mde confirmed to Food For Mzansi that the government gave an undertaking that affected homes will be rebuilt within a particular time frame.
Empty promises?
“When the deputy president was at the community, that is the promise that he made and that time frame was by December 2023,” said Mde.
“We don’t build houses ourselves so we are reliant on the government departments. What we can do is monitor progress and that is something that we will be doing this week or the week after. We will actually go back to Jagersfontein and look at the progress that has been made.”
Van Schalkwyk in the meantime commended government official Christo Geldenhuys who he said has been working hard to assist affected farmers and community members.
“I would say the department of agriculture and Christo Geldenhuys did his job quite well, but I don’t think the national government takes Jagersfontein very seriously. I think they have a lot of other problems on their plate,” Van Schalkwyk said.
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