He visited the town on Thursday, 2 March 2023, with Kopanong councillor Richard van Wyk in order to assess the circumstances in which the community finds itself after the disastrous tailings dam collapse on 11 September 2022.

"Although the mine is rebuilding some of the houses that have been lost as a result of the disaster, for most people in the community, their circumstances have remained unchanged and in many cases, have even deteriorated further.

"Basic services to the community are very poor and in some instances, non-existent. One of the most pressing issues before the disaster was a lack of access to reliable sources of water in their taps, some of them have been experiencing this for seven years.

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"The government has erected water tanks in various parts of the town. Although we were informed by the community that these are often empty, this appears to be the government’s permanent solution to their water woes. This community has suffered great trauma as a result of the tailings dam disaster and now faces further trauma from broken promises regarding the improvement of their lives and livelihoods."

Jankielsohn says he will take this issue to the debate of the Free State Premier's State of the Province Address on Friday, 3 March 2023.

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