SA diamond mine dam fails, fatal deluge hits Charlesville

SA diamond mine dam fails, fatal deluge hits Charlesville

Rescue efforts are under way in South Africa, where a mine tailings dam burst early Sunday and flooded nearby communities. The ensuing mudslides and deluge from the abandoned diamond mine in Jagersfontein claimed at least three lives with others unaccounted for, according to local media reports. The office of Nkosazana…

New AU report zeroes in on COVID-19 economic impacts

New AU report zeroes in on COVID-19 economic impacts

There are now nearly 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in 51 African nations, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 442 fatalities as of Monday. Yet as the global pandemic continues to impact the continent, there’s growing concern over the economic impacts as well. A newly released report…

Gécamines chief pushes back at NGO claims of corruption

The Congolese mining entity Gécamines issued a scathing rebuke to international NGOs on Wednesday, with a report that seeks to debunk the years of allegations about corruption and missing millions. The 60-page report begins with an introduction from Albert Yuma-Mulimbi, a close ally of outgoing President Joseph Kabila and the…

Sudan: Environmental activist questioned by state security

An environmental activist in Sudan was questioned by security services this week in connection with ongoing protests over the use of dangerous cyanide in the gold industry in and around South Kordofan state. Radio Dabanga reports that Ibrahim Naima was taken to the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) offices…

Botswana mining industry adopts new model for sustainability practices

The mines in Botswana will be the first in Africa to adopt a Canadian model of sustainability that requires members to continuously assess their mining practices and report them to the community. The Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM) initiative looks at six core areas – including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity conservation and community…