Addressing members of the Free State Provincial Legislature, the head of the department for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Tshepiso Ramakarane, acknowledged the province’s ability to prepare for and respond to disasters is being undermined by limited capacity within disaster management institutions and persistent failures by municipalities.

Ramakarane stressed that Cogta’s role is one of coordination and does not replace the responsibilities of departments tasked with responding to specific disasters, including the departments responsible for housing, roads and other critical services. 

Municipal infrastructure

Free State head of disaster management, Markes Butler, said deteriorating municipal infrastructure continues to delay emergency responses, particularly in vulnerable areas such as QwaQwa during severe winter weather.

“Most of our municipalities are not maintaining their infrastructure, roads and drainage. This makes response and recovery so much more difficult when we have to respond to disasters.”Butler said poorly maintained roads and drainage systems significantly slow disaster response teams, making it more difficult to reach communities affected by floods, snow and other emergencies. He cited the 2022 Jagersfontein tailings dam disaster as a clear example of how crumbling infrastructure can worsen an already devastating emergency.

“When we had the Jagersfontein incident, we had to drive around to get to Jagersfontein as roads were not maintained, access in terms of communication was down.” He said these challenges made disaster management response extremely difficult.

On 11 September 2022, the wall of the Jagersfontein tailings dam collapsed, releasing millions of tonnes of mine waste that swept through nearby communities. The disaster claimed one life, injured scores of residents and left many families in Itumeleng and Charlesville homeless and destitute.

The disaster has since come under renewed scrutiny. In November 2025, the department of water and sanitation handed a scathing investigative report to Free State premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae. 

Presented by deputy ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, the report found Jagersfontein Developments (Pty) Ltd had been severely negligent. According to the findings, the mine owners were aware of the growing risks posed by the unstable tailings dam but failed to act despite numerous warning signs.

Beyond infrastructure failures, Butler said the province’s disaster management teams are also responding to the ongoing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which continues to have devastating consequences for farming communities. 

He said the disease has placed severe constraints on livestock movement and trade, with farmers’ livelihoods heavily affected while the outbreak also presents broader public and economic challenges.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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