'UK-Diamond company that won water and climate awards has been linked to water pollution in Lesotho’ 5 June 2024

A UK diamond mining company that has won awards for improving local communities’ access to clean water has been accused of polluting drinking water in three villages in Lesotho, southern Africa, The Colonist Report investigation has found. Letšeng Diamonds, a subsidiary of GEM-Diamonds, has been linked to the cause of Escherichia coli (E. coli) pollution in Lesotho’s indigenous communities, which was alleged to have caused the death of animals, the extinction of fish, the illnesses of locals, and the death of a child. GEM-Diamonds made most of its profits from the Letšeng Diamonds, with revenue totalling $1.3 billion from 2017 to 2023 and profits after tax was $259 million between 2017 and 2023.

The Colonist Report on October 31, 2023 visited three villages in Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains; Maloraneng, Patising, and Lithakong, and all of the community residents we interviewed blamed the company for polluting the community river, which serves as the major source of drinking water, cooking, washing, and fishing, with its wastewater…On January 24, 2024, we collected water samples directly from the water flowing out of the Letseng Diamonds wastewater pipe —before it entered the community river. The water samples were taken from Feeane stream —50 metres away from the company’s perimeter fence, Patising and Maloraneng streams. According to locals, the company’s wastewater is allegedly channelled into the community river, which the villagers depend on for water. We sent water samples for testing in a laboratory in neighbouring South Africa. These revealed the presence of high levels of E. coli of 12 MPN/100mL, exceeding the limit of 1MPN/100mL, and nitrates of 30mg/L surpassing the acceptable upper limit of 11. Both levels of nitrate and E. coli are harmful to human health and animals.

Gem Diamonds, in an email, denied that its wastewater was the cause of E.coli in the community river, and claimed that E.coli is caused by animals using the river. The company said it is aware of the nitrate level but has made efforts to reduce it…Gem Diamond denied that the dust from its mining operations affects the local community. In an email, the company told The Colonist Report that Letšeng Diamonds has a dust monitoring protocol in place, and the testing of the dust by an eternal laboratory has not shown any negative impact. The company denied that it has spoiled the community’s water but has helped the community by providing water. In an email, Mark Antelme, company media officer, stated that the company is very concerned about the environment in its communities and has taken steps to reduce the impact of its activities.