At least 3 dead in Jagersfontein mine dam tragedy
At least three people have been killed after a mine dam
burst in Jagersfontein in the Free State.
The burst dam triggered flooding that swept away homes and cars.
Around four people are said to be missing.
"Twenty-eight people with minor injuries, four who are critical and three suspected casualties so that still needs to be verified," Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Sunday.
"Nine houses have been swept away and twenty houses have been completely damaged."
Mantashe briefed the media about the disaster on Sunday.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from the Charlesville area submerged in mud.
Search and rescue operations continued on Monday.
READ: Flooding leaves KZN with R442m bill to repair schools
Video footage showed a river of mud and water flowing away from the disused diamond mine into a nearby residential area.
Mantashe said the dam and mine used to be owned by mining giant De Beers.
"The issue is that the owner of the mine was De Beers and therefore the judges say it belongs to them. So De Beers have the responsibility and right to sell it to anybody. They sold it to Superkolong Consortium, which is a consortium that got those dams in 2010."
