Samancor's Chrome Mine Tailings Dam Collapses; Multi-Agency Probe Underway
Regulatory gap exposed as tailings dam failure halts operations at Dikwena Chrome mine.
SAMANCOR’S DIKWENA MINE FACES INVESTIGATION AFTER TAILINGS DAM FAILURE IN NORTH WEST
At approximately 5:30pm on Thursday, 13 August 2026, the northern wall of Compartment 1B at Samancor’s Dikwena Chrome mine near Brits gave way, releasing nearly all stored tailings and slimes held within it. The breach has triggered a multi-agency investigation into the structural collapse and its operational consequences.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Limpopo-Olifants Catchment Management Agency (LOCMA) were notified immediately and deployed a team of engineers from the DWS Specialist Unit: Dam Safety Regulation to assess the damage on the ground. Officials from LOCMA and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) joined the response to conduct a joint evaluation of the incident’s impact.
Physical geography limited the worst of the damage. A railway line embankment and berms at the adjacent Eland Mine blocked the released slimes from reaching the R566 provincial road. No deaths were reported, according to Water and Sanitation spokesperson Wisane Mavasa. The failure did, however, damage the mine’s own infrastructure, the railway line, and Eskom powerlines. An unnamed tributary also suffered pollution from the released material.
Water samples from the affected watercourse have been collected and sent for laboratory analysis. Results remain pending.
Meanwhile, the DWS has issued a verbal directive ordering the mine to halt all tailings deposition across its dam network until the investigation concludes. The operational suspension is in effect now, with no timeline yet confirmed for its lifting.
LOCMA holds the mandate to manage water resources in the Limpopo-Olifants Water Management Area under Section 78 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998. Its involvement in the joint assessment reflects the regulatory framework that governs water resource protection across the region where Dikwena operates.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina used the incident to reinforce her call for mining companies operating high-risk dams under the National Water Act to register their tailings facilities with the department. Majodina stated that registration is essential for the DWS to exercise effective oversight of these structures. The failure at Dikwena has exposed a broader compliance gap: mining houses that own dams meeting minimum safety-risk thresholds remain unregistered, limiting the department’s regulatory visibility and control before incidents occur.
The DWS has established a direct contact point for mining companies seeking guidance on the registration process. The department’s Dam Safety Office can be reached at [email protected] for compliance inquiries.
Investigators are still working to establish the root cause of the structural failure and to quantify the full extent of environmental and infrastructure damage. Whether the pending water sample results reveal contamination beyond the unnamed tributary will shape the next phase of the department’s response.
Q&A
When did the tailings dam failure at Samancor's Dikwena mine occur?
The northern wall of Compartment 1B failed at approximately 5:30pm on Thursday, 13 August 2026.
What operational action has the DWS taken in response to the dam failure?
The DWS issued a verbal directive ordering the mine to halt all tailings deposition across its dam network until the investigation concludes, with no timeline yet confirmed for lifting the suspension.
Which agencies were deployed to assess the damage and conduct the investigation?
The Department of Water and Sanitation, the Limpopo-Olifants Catchment Management Agency (LOCMA), and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) deployed teams of engineers from the DWS Specialist Unit: Dam Safety Regulation to assess the damage and conduct a joint evaluation.
What regulatory gap did the incident expose according to Minister Majodina?
Mining companies operating high-risk dams under the National Water Act remain unregistered, limiting the DWS's regulatory visibility and control before incidents occur; Majodina called for mandatory registration of tailings facilities.