Mandela, Zuma-Linked Mine May Flood South African Town, Rival, M&G Reports
Aurora Empowerment Systems Ltd. has halted pumping at its Grootvlei mine in South Africa, threatening to flood the nearby town of Nigel and a mine shaft owned by Gold One International Ltd., Johannesburg’s Mail & Guardian reported, citing employees and labor union officials.
The pumps, needed to prevent ground water from rising, were removed and brought to the surface this week, the newspaper said. Water at the mine is rising by a meter a day and could flood the mine within five to eight months, Gideon du Plessis, a spokesman for the Solidarity union said, according to the newspaper.
Aurora’s Managing Director is Zondwa Mandela, a grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, while the company’s chairman is Khulubuse Zuma, a nephew of Jacob Zuma, the country’s current president.
Calls to Khulubuse Zuma’s mobile phone weren’t answered and his phone wasn’t accepting messages. Calls to Zondwa Mandela’s phone didn’t connect.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net
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