Jagersfontein Developments Tailings Dam Update - 12 September 2022

Relief operations at Jagersfontein Developments’ tailings dam in the Free State have made steady progress today since the devastating breach yesterday.

We can confirm one fatality and one person remains missing. We have met with the victim’s family today and are relieved to report that the majority of the injured have been discharged from the hospital.

Jagersfontein Developments has made R20m available immediately for relief operations and will monitor progress tightly within its priority of people’s safety and health; restoring the town, and returning people to their homes and livelihoods.

Jagersfontein Developments (Pty) Ltd owns the tailings dam, which is a treatment facility for the tailings dump at Jagersfontein. It is not involved in any mining operations in the area. Stargems only acquired Reinet Fund’s shareholding in Jagersontein in April 2022.

The dam went through independent engineering inspections in July 2022, during which it was found to be safe and volumes were within limits. The organisation remains legally compliant and committed to the community in which it operates.

An independent water analysis has determined that the waste is not hazardous and does not pose a health risk at this stage. The report defines the waste in the alkaline ph range and classifies the Sludge Cake and Liquid as Type 3 (Low Risk). This means that the waste does not pose any health threat to anybody exposed to it.

Currently, the dam is stable and is being closely monitored.

We welcomed His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the site today, along with delegations from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and executive mayor of Kopanong Local Municipality, Xolani Tseletsele. We will continue to cooperate with all authorities and would like to thank the Free State Emergency Services, the South African Police Service, and Gift of the Givers for their invaluable assistance and support during this incident.