{
  "id": 8849226,
  "title": "‘We are just waiting to die’: Free State residents drowning in poisoned water",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/we-are-just-waiting-to-die-free-state-residents-drowning-in-poisoned",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/we-are-just-waiting-to-die-free-state-residents-drowning-in-poisoned-water/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For over three years, Mmathabo Mabaso has endured the collapse of her home and health due to polluted water and raw sewage in Nyakallong, Free State. The source of the problem is Voëlpan Dam, a mining discharge and municipal failure site locally known as \"stinkpan\". Despite investigations by the South African Human Rights Commission and a court ruling against the Matjhabeng municipality, the crisis remains unresolved. Numerous tests have detected dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, copper, silicon, and uranium in the water. The 2024 SAHRC report highlighted the risks of exposure to these substances, originating from Harmony Gold's target mine. Residents suffer from waterlogged homes, constant headaches, breathing difficulties, and severe asthma. Mabaso's four-bedroom house, funded entirely by her savings, is now a dangerous environment. She laments the government's lack of concern and the inevitable fate of her community. Mabaso's story echoes that of many other Nyakallong residents, whose homes have been deemed uninhabitable due to the contamination. The South African Human Rights Commission has recommended relocation for those living near the dam and a repair to the sewerage system. However, more than a year after the High Court's ruling, the promised relocation of the 77 families affected has not materialized. Recently, two young boys drowned in a mine dam near Harmony Gold's Target 2 Rock Dump, underscoring the urgent danger posed by the hazardous water bodies. Harmony Gold claims to have established two treatment plants at the target site, treating all water on-site and preventing discharge into the dam. However, the community's plight remains unresolved, with their situation serving as a stark reminder of the government's failure to address the dire consequences of mining activities.",
  "summary": "Those in the area endure sewage, toxic water, and broken promises.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}