Cape Town – Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has raised concerns about the management and supervision of Samancor’s Dikwena Chrome tailings facility in Brits, North West, following the collapse of a sidewall on 13 August, releasing almost all the waste stored inside.
Mantashe and Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo conducted a joint oversight visit to the facility to assess the impact of the incident, including the environmental consequences and disruption to surrounding infrastructure.
No fatalities were reported, but briefing the media Mantashe said the incident highlighted serious concerns about the management of tailings facilities and the need for stronger oversight and regulatory compliance.
“We are very lucky that there is no fatality. Managing slime dams cannot be treated as a water issue. It is a mining issue, inherently linked to the core mining operations and structural accountability,” Mantashe said.
Mantashe raises concerns over reported seepage saying one of the key concerns was the supervision of contractors working at the tailings facility.
According to the Minister, seepage had been identified at the facility about three months before the collapse, but the issue was not addressed decisively.
We have observed the magnitude of the tailings release at Samancor Dikwena Chrome. We are fortunate that, despite the unintended release of tailings slurry, no fatalities have been recorded. We will continue working with the mine & all stakeholders to strengthen safety measures. pic.twitter.com/4qaJNfFfQ2
— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) August 17, 2026
“What is an issue is that Samancor lowered their guards in supervising the contractors. And contractors handled the slimes dam in a reckless way because they saw seepage three months ago, but they allowed it until there was a slimes release,” Mantashe said.
The comments raise questions about whether earlier intervention could have prevented or reduced the impact of the incident.
Mantashe said the management of tailings facilities should be treated as an integral part of mining operations rather than being viewed primarily as a water-related matter.
“Managing a slimes dam cannot be a water issue, it’s a mining issue because they’re inherently linked to the mining operation,” he said.
Minister called for greater focus on prevention, acknowledged that government and the mine could have responded more proactively to the warning signs.
“We should have done better, we could have done better. We allowed the seepage to happen, and only then do we react. We should be more proactive in terms of prevention,” he said.
The Minister’s comments come as authorities continue to assess the consequences of the tailings release and examine the circumstances surrounding the failure of the facility.
The incident has also renewed questions about the monitoring of tailings facilities, the responsibilities of mine operators and contractors, and how quickly potential structural or environmental risks are addressed once they are identified.
Mantashe said government would continue working with Samancor and other stakeholders to strengthen safety measures following the incident.
The oversight process is expected to provide further clarity on the cause of the collapse, the reported seepage and the management of the tailings facility.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/ @GwedeMantashe1
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
