Farm animal deaths are nearing 900. Surviving animals have little to no clean drinking water. Food gardens have been washed away. And the findings of studies on possible soil contamination are anxiously awaited. As mop-up operations in Jagersfontein continue this week, farmers say the aftermath of a burst mine tailings dam will be with them for a long time.
While the full extent of the damage suffered by farmers is not yet clear, at least 862 animals belonging to 25 farmers are confirmed to have died. Farmers in the area say they also have an immediate need for water pipes, troughs, water tanks and feed.
This, as the community of Jagersfontein are attempting to pick up the pieces and rebuild their livelihoods after a violent mudslide hit the small Free State town on Sunday morning, 11 September 2022. The wall of an unused mine tailings dam collapsed and sent a flood of muddy water into the nearby community.
Farmers not only lost hundreds of livestock but also suffered severe damage to their grazing land.
“Subsistence and smallholder farmers on commonages have lost their livestock. To date, about 862 animals belonging to 25 farmers have died,” says Zimasa Leputla, spokesperson for the Free State department of agriculture and rural development.
On-site assessments are still being conducted to determine the extent of the damages. However, Leputla confirms that 164 houses were destroyed in the flood, including some that belong to subsistence producers whose gardens have been completely wiped out.
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Livestock death toll still rising
It is currently still all hands on deck with mop-up operations in the small farming community.
Albertus van Schalkwyk, chairperson of the Jagersfotein Agricultural Association, tells Food For Mzansi that it will be a while before it is business as usual for farmers. This was because some farmers have lost all their livestock in the disaster.
“Cattle and sheep from mostly emerging farmers have been swept away. The number is expected to rise as some farmers are still [forwarding information],” he says.
Speaking to Food For Mzansi last week, Van Schalkwyk said that at least 1 000 hectares of grazing land have been completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, animals that did survive the dam burst, which some experts say could have been avoided, have been left with little to no water to drink.
Smallholder and commercial farmers who live along the river, and use the water for irrigation and for their livestock, have suffered a devastating setback as they cannot use the water at the moment.
“The water in the river is still contaminated, so animals cannot go and drink there,” says Van Schalkwyk. “The government, together with the mine, is busy grading the roads and pushing the mud off the road.”
He adds that private sector players such as Gift of the Givers and Meals on Wheels have also assisted a great deal with food and water donations.
“We are meeting with the national government on Wednesday, 21 September to see how they can assist us in terms of relief and how we can work together,” Van Schalkwyk says.
Affected farmers helped
For crop farmers in the area, the mine dam burst was a major step backwards. “We are mainly a small farming community. There are farmers who are farming with maize meal but at a small scale; not huge,” Van Schalkwyk says.
He confirms that farmers are concerned about what the toxic mud will mean for the quality of their soil. “We are still waiting for the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment, who came and took some water and soil for laboratory tests.”
The provincial department of agricultural has, in the meantime, vowed to assist farmers with fresh water for livestock, 20 water tanks and water troughs, as well as fodder and fencing.
Leputla tells Food For Mzansi that they have identified several sites for boreholes and have asked the national department of agriculture, land reform and rural development to assist with drilling these boreholes. The province is awaiting approval from national government.
“The moment you give assistance to one farmer, two others come. We have not been able to establish all the commonage farmers as this stage,” says Leputla.
“Once assessments have been done and we are certain that X amount of farmers have been identified and verified, then the process of handing over the fodder will take place.”
‘Don’t close the mine’
Van Schalkwyk says they want to work with the various stakeholders to avoid job losses and the economic collapse of the community. “We do not want the mine to close, because if it does close, about 200 people will lose their jobs. Let us work together and see what we can achieve. We are a small community of 5 000 people. If we do not preserve jobs, it will be devastating for the community.”
Gernie Botha, chief executive officer of Free State Agriculture, has confirmed in the meantime that their organisation has given an amount of R50 000 from their disaster fund to support Jagersfontein farmers with immediate need.
Members of the public are also encouraged to extend support to Jagersfontein farmers. Contributions to the Jagersfontein farmers can be done by clicking on this link, sending an email to info@vslandbou.co.za with the subject line “Jagersfontein” or contacting Elana Bester, FSA’s communications coordinator, on 083 483 1859.
ALSO READ: ‘The only one who will save you is you’
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