Slime spill: mine acts quickly to remedy situation, apologises to those affected

The mine also assures citizens that the spilled slime contains no cyanide, the radiation levels are well below prescribed limits and total removal of the slime will obviate the risk of dust pollution going forward.

May 31, 2019

Fanie Mthupha 1 minute read

The incident left the area covered in mud-like mining waste and residents complained about the apparent threat the slime poses to the lives or property of workers and citizens in the surrounding community.

Ergo Mining, a division of DRD Gold Limited, has apologised for any inconvenience caused by the May 23 slime spill in Sunward Park.

“Ergo Mining understands the concerns of members of the public affected by the spill and apologises for the inconvenience caused,” said the mine’s James Duncan.

The mine confirmed that the slime spill was caused by a rupture in an underground pipeline carrying slime from an Ergo reclamation site at Elsburg, north of the N17, to the Ergo treatment plant in Brakpan.

“The rupture was reported to the plant’s 24/7/365 Brakpan-based control room at approximately 7pm and the process of stopping the pump system began. Repairs to the pipeline were underway by the early hours of Friday morning and were completed by 10am on the same day,” said Duncan.

It is estimated that some 1 500 tonnes of slimes spilled over an area of approximately 1.5 hectares, primarily around the Sunward Park Sports Ground and the exterior verges of neighbouring properties.

According to Duncan, the slime did not enter any watercourses in the area.

“Since spills of this nature occur from time to time, Ergo has an emergency clean-up crew on hand, 24/7/365. In this instance, the clean-up crew was on site by early Friday morning, but the clean-up could only start in earnest on Saturday morning to allow the slime to dry out and consolidate to some degree,” he said.

The clean-up is expected to be completed by June 7.

Duncan stated that key steps in the clean-up process are to remove as much of the slime as possible by hand and, where mechanical scraping of the surface is required, to replant and re-establish vegetation.

Anyone with queries or concerns may contact Louis Kleynhans, Ergo environmental manager, on 082 777 3413.