The mine pit that has been filled with water from Sibanye Stillwater
The morning of June 16, 2026, a public holiday marking Youth Day, began as a routine operational day at the chrome prospect known as Elandskraal 469JQ, Portion 128, near Mooinooi in the Madibeng District.
According to Androsol Mining, workers were scheduled to move approximately 35,000 tonnes of run-of-mine chrome ore and supply three contracted beneficiation wash plants. By mid-morning, however, an excavator had been abandoned in a rapidly flooding pit after its operator evacuated the area.
At the centre of the dispute is Sibanye Stillwater, which acknowledges installing a pipe and pumping water into the pit. The parties sharply disagree on the reasons for the discharge and whether it was a necessary safety intervention or caused avoidable damage to Androsol's operations.
Sibanye Stillwater says it acted to prevent a potentially serious safety and environmental incident involving a stormwater dam on its property and that its actions were undertaken with the approval of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Androsol disputes that explanation and alleges that the discharge caused significant damage to its mining operation.
