The morning of June 16, 2026 — Youth Day, a public holiday — started as a normal shift at Androsol Mining's chrome prospect near Mooinooi in North West. By mid-morning, workers had abandoned a 50-tonne excavator in a pit that was rapidly filling with water.

At the centre of the dispute is Sibanye Stillwater, which admits it installed a pipe through the fence and pumped water into Androsol's operation. The two companies have very different stories about why.

Androsol says the flooding destroyed 20,000 tonnes of chrome ore worth R24 million and damaged equipment worth another R43 million. Total estimated loss: R67 million. These figures haven't been independently verified.

"They didn't just flood us. They came back the next morning with armed security to make sure we couldn't stop them," said Ezra Nkosi, principal of Androsol.

The pipe and the pump

According to Androsol, workers saw a metal pipe being installed through the fence separating their site from Sibanye's neighbouring property on June 15. Water started flowing into the pit almost immediately.

Community members managed to stop the pumping that evening, but Androsol alleges it resumed the next morning — Youth Day — with security personnel and armoured vehicles guarding the operation.

"We couldn't believe what we were seeing. A pipe through our fence. Water is pouring into our pit," a senior site representative who requested anonymity told IOL.

Water levels rose so fast that the excavator operator had to run to safety, leaving the machine submerged.

Sibanye's side

Sibanye Stillwater confirmed it installed the pipe and discharged water, but rejected claims it intended to damage Androsol's operation. The company says it acted to prevent what it calls a "potentially serious safety and environmental incident" involving a stormwater dam on its property.

Sibanye says it had approval from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for the discharge.

The mining giant also argues that Androsol's pit was illegal because it encroached on a statutory 100-metre setback from surrounding infrastructure.

"The activity conducted on the neighbouring land parcel isn't lawful by definition, as it has encroached within the minimum 100-metre boundary specified under Regulations 17(7) and 17(8) of the Mine Health and Safety Regulations," said Sibanye's Marais.

Androsol rejects that claim, saying it holds a valid prospecting right and operates within the law.

Who is Androsol?

Androsol Mining is a junior chrome explorer with a prospecting right on Elandskraal 469JQ, Portion 128, in Mooinooi, Madibeng District. The company says it employed 32 workers through a contractor and complied with all safety requirements, including inductions and PPE.

Nkosi insists they did everything by the book. "Androsol did everything by the book. We came to this property to do it properly, inductions, PPE, safety officers, the lot."

The Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are all involved. It isn't clear whether any of them have taken formal action yet.

Sibanye says it has no record of prior engagement from Androsol and that attempts to contact representatives on site were unsuccessful. Androsol disputes this.

For now, the pit remains flooded, the excavator is still under water, and a junior mining company is counting losses while a mining giant defends its actions as a safety measure.