On 14 February, a concrete seal at the south shaft of the old Kromdraai coal mine failed, decanting millions of litres of toxic acid mine drainage into the Bronkhorstspruit river system.

The mine, which was last operational in 1966, is part of Thungela Resources’ Khwezela Colliery, outside eMalahleni.

The acidic water flowed uncontrolled into the Wilge River, which leads into the Olifants River, until it reached the inlet to Loskop Dam.

Within days, tons of fish were wiped out in what has been compared to a ‘chemical burn’.

The Mail & Guardian reports that the spill was ‘catastrophic’, said Francois Roux, an aquatic scientist at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. It covered 95km of the river system and obliterated all aquatic life because of the extremely low pH values and metal toxicity of the acid water.

Now, the Department of Water & Sanitation and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment have launched a criminal investigation.

Water and sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the aim is to gather evidence to lay criminal charges against the mine.

This will ensure that the polluter is held criminally liable for the actions that caused damage to water resources and the environment, that the ‘polluter pays’ for the effect of pollution on water resources and the environment and that ‘the polluter is held accountable for its actions’.

Full Mail & Guardian report