At least three people, including a woman and her son, were killed Tuesday when a gold mining pit collapsed in Ngauro, Budi County, in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state.
Local authorities blamed Prudent Holding Company, accusing it of failing to fill abandoned mining holes, which led to the deaths.
The company, managed and owned by the family of the late Gen. Salva Mathok Gengdit, had been mining gold in the area under an agreement with the community.
Kokol Michael, a lawmaker from the area, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the victims entered the pit to search for gold before it caved in.
“The company failed to cover these holes. If they had, this incident would not have happened,” Kokol said. He urged the company to fill the abandoned pits and called on the victims’ families to pursue legal action against the company.
The lawmaker added that the community recently terminated its contract with Prudent Holding due to unmet promises, including road construction, health centers, and schools.
For his part, Abraham Salva Mathok, the company’s manager, denied the allegations, calling them an attempt by local elites to tarnish the company’s reputation. He said the firm remains operational and has fulfilled several community projects, including school renovations, road repairs, and medical donations.
“We have invested heavily and faced losses,” Mathok said. “Some leaders prioritize personal interests over the community’s needs.”
He emphasized the need for South Sudan to diversify its economy beyond oil and improve security for businesses.
Meanwhile, Francis Ojok Laboke, a civil society activist, questioned whether the government was involved in the gold mining agreement in the area, saying authorities should intervene in such cases.
Prudent Holding which is linked to the family of the late Gen. Salva Mathok describes itself as an ethical mining company focused on environmental stewardship and community development.
Several international partners in South Sudan have expressed concerns over the absence of gold revenue in the country’s national budget, despite reports indicating that South Sudan may be producing between 30 to 40 tons of gold each year.