A dam mess𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮.
A mega tailings dam built near the Vaal River in a bid to clean up a century of residual pollutants from mine workings in the North West sounded good on paper. But why were critical parts of the plan, including the extraction of toxic substances like radioactive uranium and sulphuric acid not fulfilled? Carte Blanche takes to the air to examine the potential for the dam’s walls to be breached, and the impact of that on nearby farmland, the critical Vaal River, and the millions of people relying on it for fresh water.