Jagersfontein families file lawsuit against mine

JAGERSFONTEIN - Residents of Charlesville in the Free State are suing the owners of the Jagersfontein diamond mine.

A mine dam wall collapse on Sunday killed at least one person and left over 300 homeless.

READ: Jagersfontein Dam burst | Residents to sue mining company

Several people are still missing.

The affected families have appointed Phosa Loots Attorneys to file a lawsuit.

Andries Nkome, an attorney with Phosa Loots Attorneys, said, "indeed we've received this from Kopanong municipality, simply because they've suffered damages."

"We've also received instruction on behalf of affected families, those who lost properties. We're in the process of getting instruction from those who've lost families, those who ended up in hospital and losing livestock."

"Initially, the Minerals Department was approached to determine if there was negligence, they're looking at criminal liability, culpable homicide for those that have died . Second civil litigation, they've lost houses as a result, also getting compensation, people displaced."

"The whole sewer system of the municipality has collapsed, so company is being taken on for accountability on all the damages"