COLOSSAL FAILURE: Slimes dam collapse raises safety and transparency issues anew
The tailings dam at a mine near Brits, North West, was hiding in plain sight, unregistered and showing signs of the trouble to come.
A tailings dam at a mine near Brits, North West, collapsed on August 13th, 2025, releasing a toxic slurry across the landscape. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or serious injuries. The incident has raised concerns about safety and transparency in the mining industry. The dam, which was unregistered and in poor condition, belonged to an unlisted company called Samancor Chrome and was operated by a separate entity called One Chrome.
The South African Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Department of Water and Sanitation were found to have failed in their oversight duties. Experts have called for stricter regulations and better monitoring of such facilities to prevent future disasters.
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