Parys – Ngwathe Local Municipality has urgently appealed to the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) for intervention as catastrophic floods devastate the towns of Koppies and Kwakwatsi Municipal Manager Dr Futhuli Mothamaha requested that the areas be declared disaster zones following severe flooding on 23 and 24 April 2025 triggered by the Koppies Dam overflowing at 179% capacity and left the local water treatment plant inoperable the municipality is scrambling to provide relief while seeking provincial and national support to restore services and prevent further devastation The flooding that struck Koppies and Kwakwatsi on 23 and 24 April 2025 was unprecedented caused by the Koppies Dam reaching an alarming 179% capacity and spilling over at 816 cubic metres per second into the Renoster River The situation worsened when the sixth sluice gate of the Vaal River was opened with significant damage reported across multiple sectors In his letter to COGTA’s Head of Department Dr Futhuli Mothamaha outlined the dire circumstances: “The flooding resulting in substantial loss and damage to: Infrastructure The environment.” He highlighted the evacuation of farmers along the Renoster River due to rising water levels and the complete overload of the Koppies Water Treatment Plant which has left Koppies and Kwakwatsi without a reliable water supply posing “a significant risk to public health.” The floods have also inundated residential and commercial properties displacing hundreds of residents who now require temporary shelter The economic ripple effects are already impacting businesses and threatening the region’s stability formally requested that Koppies and Kwakwatsi be declared disaster zones to unlock emergency resources “In light of the severity and extent of the damage Ngwathe Local Municipality urgently require assistance and support to respond to this disaster.” A disaster declaration would enable the municipality to: •  Mobilize emergency funding and expertise •  Provide relief to affected residents •  Implement long-term measures to mitigate future flooding risks The letter included a visual representation of the affected areas attempts to reach COGTA’s Head of Department for comment were unsuccessful leaving residents anxious about the speed of the response The flooding has crippled the Koppies Water Treatment Plant a critical facility serving Koppies and Kwakwatsi the Ngwathe Communications Unit issued a statement: “The team managed to access the water purification plant under difficult circumstances plant machinery is still under heavy water flow and not functional.” The municipality apologized for the inconvenience and announced temporary measures while exploring long-term solutions like relocating the plant in consultation with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Democratic Alliance (DA) Councillor Carina Serfontein expressed alarm at the ongoing water crisis on 28 April 2025 residents have not had proper access to clean water violating their fundamental human right to water.” She noted that consistent rainfall and heavy river flow had flooded the plant forcing process controllers to evacuate for safety delaying assessments of the plant’s pumps and potential damage Serfontein highlighted the severity of the situation pointing out that the Koppies Dam reached 117% capacity on 27 April raising fears of further flooding if rains persist She criticized the plant’s inadequate capacity leading to “unscheduled water shedding” even before the floods While a single water truck has been deployed Serfontein called it “insufficient” and announced that the DA would write to the DWS to demand urgent repairs The floods have dealt a severe blow to Koppies and Kwakwatsi face uncertain futures as crops and livestock have been lost The destruction of roads and bridges has isolated communities are grappling with disruptions that could lead to job losses The risk of waterborne diseases looms large with the compromised water supply raising fears of outbreaks like cholera many of whom have lost homes and possessions The Ngwathe Communications Unit’s promise of water tankers offers some hope but the scale of the crisis demands a coordinated response beyond the municipality’s current capacity Eskom threatened to cut power to Ngwathe over a R2.3 billion debt highlighting the municipality’s financial woes The appointment of Dr Futhuli Mothamaha as Municipal Manager in August 2024 brought optimism with residents noting faster responses to service issues the floods have tested the municipality’s resilience The disaster aligns with warnings from the South African Weather Service about increased rainfall in summer rainfall areas President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster for flooding in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape noting the growing frequency of extreme weather due to climate change where the Vredefort Dome and Renoster River’s dams are critical for agriculture but vulnerable to overflows Ngwathe has previously sought external support for water issues the municipality engaged Sibanye Stillwater to assess the municipality’s water purification plants a move that followed years of resident complaints requiring a multi-level government response The DA’s Carina Serfontein has urged immediate action emphasizing residents’ constitutional right to clean water Her letter to the DWS will push for repairs to the Koppies plant and long-term upgrades to prevent future crises Ngwathe’s exploration of relocating the plant signals a proactive approach though funding and timelines remain uncertain The department has a history of supporting municipalities under Section 154 of the Constitution as seen in the Ngwathe Bulk Water Supply project which is upgrading the Koppies water treatment works to serve 5,776 households underscoring the need for climate-resilient infrastructure the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) classified floods in other provinces as national disasters in 2023 Ngwathe’s disaster declaration request could tap into similar funds 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 102 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Hope for Matjhabeng as Executive Mayor Khalipha Rolls Out Plan for Renewal After ANC Reinstatement” Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment Five suspects linked to a business robbery and attempted murder in Koppies have been arrested following a series of police operations The arrests were made during operations conducted in Sedibeng were found in possession of a stolen rifle and two pistols with filed-off serial numbers They have since been transferred to Koppies where they will face charges of business robbery and attempted murder Free State Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane praised the efforts of the officers involved “I would like to commend the outstanding teamwork and dedication displayed by the members involved in this operation,” she said Home | South Africa Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the Free State has confirmed that a well-known musician and two companions have died in a car crash on the N1 near the Koppies off-ramp. EMS spokesperson Sipho Towa says emergency personnel found a light motor vehicle that collided with a heavy motor vehicle. Towa says that there were five people in the car and two of them had been transferred to hospital in critical but stable condition, while the three men were declared dead on the scene. The vehicle was driving from the Gauteng side of the N1 towards Bloemfontein. Towa says the managers of the artists have been informed about the crash. This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers. Twenty-five people have been killed in eight separate accidents in the Free State Province over the weekend. Police Spokesperson Captain Loraine Earle says on Sunday, 10 people were killed on the N1 near Koppies when a taxi driver drove under a truck. She says on Friday, a 49-year-old father lost his 32-year-old wife and four children, aged nine, 14 and 17 when his vehicle collided with a truck along the N3 near Harrisith. A 49 police sergeant was also killed when his vehicle hit a stray animal in Winburg. Captain Earle says in Spitskop a pedestrian was hit by a car near a liquor store after which two other vehicles drove over the victim. She says in Memel a female pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in Saturday afternoon as she was trying to cross the road while another pedestrian died in hospital after being hit by a vehicle near the Mooidraai informal settlement in Zamdela. Captain Earle says five people were killed in two separate accidents in Odendaalsrus and on the N6 just outside Bloemfontein involving multiple vehicles. SAPS says traffic volumes are increasing on major routes in anticipation of the festive season. Journey to Justice, an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche, a slain Gqeberha mother. Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj. Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i JOHANNESBURG - Thirteen people have lost their lives in two horrific crashes in the Free State. In the first tragedy, 10 people were killed when a taxi collided with a truck on the N1, South of Koppies, towards Kroonstad on Sunday morning. A truck driver and taxi passenger survived the crash and were rushed to a nearby hospital. In the second incident, three people, including a nine-year-old child, died on Saturday night when two bakkies collided on the R30 between Allanridge and Odendaalsrus. The cause of both accidents remains unclear and authorities are now investigating. Sections “We all have something to lose if the town gets worse” The league is welcoming to all those who are interested women as well as younger players aged 17 or 18 who are ageing out of the junior divisions The case of missing journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner has been upgraded to kidnapping and carjacking The Junior Springboks starting lineup for tomorrow’s U20 Rugby Championship clash against Australia includes four players from the 2024 squad Locals say the mayor’s pothole numbers don’t reflect the reality of crumbling streets across the capital He finished first in the men's 65-69 category This vibrant sweet corn salsa combines the sweetness of corn with fresh herbs South Africa’s Generation Z (aged 19–27) is reshaping financial wellness blending digital convenience with long-term… celebrated the launch of its latest Galaxy A series - the Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A26 5G - at an exciting event in Johannesburg now the bold claim that it can take on the likes of Ferrari Great Wall Motor seems to have no stopping in its aspirations to tackle every segment of the… The sardine run – known as the ‘greatest shoal on Earth’ – is just around the corner Thirteen people have been killed in two separate crashes in the Free State in the last 24 hours 10 people were killed on the N1 south of Koppies towards Kroonstad when a minibus crashed into a truck in the early hours of this morning One person from the minibus and the truck driver survived The affected stretch of the road is currently closed as emergency personnel extract bodies from the wreckage — TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) December 8, 2024 three people including a nine-year-old child were in a collision between two bakkies on the R30 between Allanridge and Odendaalsrus last night the ANC Chief Whip in Ngwathe Local Municipality and Ward 16 Councillor in Koppies at 7:00 am at Re Batla Thuto Secondary School in Kwakwatsi leaving behind a legacy of service and dedication to his community and the African National Congress (ANC) with leaders and residents coming together to mourn a man who worked hard to make life better for those around him These words show how much Sotshiva meant to his community and his party His work as a leader and a councillor left a mark that won’t be forgotten Leponesa Sotshiva was more than just a titleholder in Ngwathe Local Municipality he was the person who kept the party’s councillors in line and made sure the ANC’s plans were carried out in the council He was also the Ward 16 Councillor in Koppies where he listened to people’s problems and fought for solutions Sotshiva cared deeply about making life better in Ngwathe and roads—things that matter every day to ordinary people often walking the streets of Koppies to talk to residents and understand their needs One of his proudest moments was helping to get money to fix the Koppies water treatment plant people in his ward struggled with water shortages talking to provincial and national leaders until the project was approved in 2024 It was a big win for him and the community Sotshiva supported local schools and youth projects believing that education and opportunity were key to a better future His efforts earned him respect from friends and even rivals in the council Ngwathe Local Municipality has not had an easy time and Sotshiva spent much of his career trying to fix its problems part of South Africa’s Free State province and money troubles that have made life hard for residents These protests were close to Sotshiva’s heart asking for quick fixes to get water flowing again His work on the Koppies water plant was part of his bigger fight to solve this crisis The water issue is just one piece of a bigger puzzle told Central News about the municipality’s struggles with water He said Ngwathe wasn’t spending its Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) money properly—something Free State MEC Saki Mokoena also pointed out Sotshiva tried to bridge the gap between the ANC and other parties He believed that politics should help people Eskom warned it might cut power to 15 Free State towns Power cuts have already hit homes and businesses hard Sotshiva didn’t shy away from this problem He called for a plan to pay Eskom bit by bit His practical ideas showed how much he cared about keeping Ngwathe running there have been some bright spots in Ngwathe recently—things Sotshiva would have cheered for helping the party talk to voters and keep them on board Ngwathe didn’t have a permanent Municipal Manager Mothamaha has already started making a difference and promised to tackle problems like water pipes and stolen cables residents have noticed faster responses when they report issues—a sign things might be turning around Leponesa Sotshiva’s funeral is set for 9 March 2025 at Re Batla Thuto Secondary School in Kwakwatsi The school’s open space will host the service 🔴 Central News Special Edition | Issue 96 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Gauteng Provincial Government Initiates Lifestyle Audits to Enhance Transparency and Ethical Governance” https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Central-News-Issue-096.pdf https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Home | Uncategorized Free State Emergency Services says a truck carrying explosives is on fire on the N1 – 10 km north of Kroonstad Three people have sustained minor injuries and there are also multiple light motor vehicles involved Spokesperson Sipho Towa says fire services and other emergency services are on the scene and everyone has been evacuated to make sure the explosives are extinguished properly Traffic is being diverted from Kroonstad to the R721 Vredefort and from Koppies to the R82 Rooiwal A truck carrying “explosives” on fire on N1 10km N of KROONSTAD Fire Services and other emergency services on scene Traffic Diverted from KROONSTAD to R721 Vredefort From Koppies to R82, Rooiwal, Heuningspruit back to N1 KROONSTAD.@Thibos_Mokone @LesediFM @_ArriveAlive — Sipho Towa (@SiphoTowa) December 25, 2024 The road is closed due to explosives in the truck — Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 25, 2024 JOHANNESBURG - Lesotho-born rapper Malome Vector's family has confirmed his death in a car accident on Thursday. Three people were killed in the accident, which saw the artist's vehicle collide with a truck on the N1 near the Koppies turn-off. Two other people have been hospitalised. Vector, real name is Bokang Moleli, is survived by his wife and daughter as well as his mother, father and four siblings. According to a statement released by his manager, Berry Matseletsele, on behalf of his family, the musician was on his way home to Lesotho at the time of the crash and died on the scene. The family has described him as “a true and loving son”. They say he will be remembered for his “limitless love and selflessness”. South Africa (11 October 2023) —  Melville Koppies Heritage site and its protectors are celebrating a shining victory after winning the prestigious Golden Shield Heritage Award for ‘Preferred Heritage Destination’ as awarded by the National Heritage Council recently The Golden Shield Heritage Awards honoured people around South Africa who work very hard as communities and in individual capacities to preserve train and support cultural and natural heritage riches For the conservation team who help keep Melville Koppies a sought-after gem of natural curiosity and history the team work tirelessly to preserve the Koppies’ geology fauna and various historical significances—something visitors will get to know more about when adventuring through the Koppies’—a hiker’s haven just five minutes from the Johannesburg CBD Volunteer guides with a wealth of information fill explorers in on the significance of their footsteps Where museums usually have historic displays organised in an orderly and chronological fashion the historical remains at the Koppies are random and often concealed by vegetation; making the experiences there even more of an adventure as Wendy Carstens Chair of the volunteer Melville Koppies Management Committee shares in one warm north-facing area there are many traces of stone walling from the huts and kraals of early Sotho and Tswana farmers Close by there is a Late Stone Age tool scraper tool This little treasure has been hidden under ‘the rock’ by guides to let visitors feel and touch such a tool And there is a blast hole left by the Geldenhuys brothers when they tried prspecting for gold in the 1880s Fortunately what they found was not worth the immense effort More such remains are often found by the Conservation Team when they clear alien vegetation,” says Wendy visitors are also introduced to the uses and curious relationships of some of the plants in the grasslands and forests like the Wild Als (AKA the ‘cure for everything’) and the underground tree affectionately known that the ‘paranoid tree’ that protects itself from fire is the original 500-year-old iron smelting furnace that actually led to the site’s establishment as a Heritage Site while the prize view is at the top of a steep rocky path where on a clear day underlying one’s explorations are the almost 3-billion-year-old quartzite ridges and shale valleys of the Witwatersrand Supergroup none of these experiences of knowledge would be possible without the Koppies’ community the award is also a reflection of the committed volunteer involvement Melville Koppies has prided itself on ever since it was established as a Nature Reserve in 1959 the Gold Shield Heritage Awards also saw other winners have their moment in the sun; including  Professor Pitika Ntuli and Mr Themba Wakashe with special awards of Lifetime Achievement among the following: National Living Treasure: Professor Nokuzola Mndende Preferred Heritage Destination: Melville Koppies Heritage Site Voice of Heritage: Monicca Thulisile Bhuda Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a1792b72af1a1b56ff4bf80d981ccc4a" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" Would you like to receive truly phenomenal inspirational and good thing stories right to your inbox Then subscribe to our weekly GoodThingsGuy newsletter today I accept GTG’s Privacy Policy GoodThingsGuy is the home of everything good and those are the things that really matter We believe that there is good news all around us and over 1 million readers a month agree with us GoodThingsGuy was officially launched on the 1 August 2015 in order to only promote good news inspirational stories and promote only positive multi-platform media company that distills unique content across multiple media platforms We consider individual and corporate contributions through the website or mail us directly here. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again Elevate Uranium’s Koppies uranium resource goes from strength to strength Special Report: Elevate Uranium now has greater confidence in the uranium mineralisation present at its Koppies in Namibia after upgrading a significant portion of its resources to the indicated category To top it off, the company has also defined a maiden resource of 23.3Mt grading 200 parts per million (ppm) eU3O8, or 10.2Mlbs of contained U3O8, for the Hirabeb deposit to the south of the Koppies resource As a result, Elevate Uranium (ASX:EL8) now has a total resource of 156.7Mt at 192ppm eU3O8 at its Koppies project with 78% of that (43.6Mlbs U3O8) in the higher confidence indicated category that provides enough geological certainty for mine planning Overall resources in Namibia have been increased to 112.1Mlbs U3O8 due to the addition of the Hirabeb resource while the company’s global resource base now stands at 160.5Mlbs The indicated resource is a large continuous area about 7km from north to south and 3.5km east to west in the central area of the Koppies deposit with smaller pods to the west and north This continuity is expected to support a potential future mining operation “The Koppies uranium project continues to mature with 78% of the Koppies Resource upgraded to JORC indicated category This is an important step in derisking the project along with undertaking an U-pgrade™ metallurgical testwork program on mineralised samples from the resource,” managing director Murray Hill said will inform further technical studies and subsequent construction and operation of an U-pgrade™ demonstration plant at Koppies to confirm the potential value of the process at scale.” He added that the successful addition of the Hirabeb resource highlighted the project area’s potential as the company continued to explore the ground and target future expansion of the resource base “The company continues substantial exploration drilling programs at Hirabeb and several other projects,” Hill noted “The geological knowledge gained at Koppies and the understanding that uranium mineralisation extends into weathered basement adjacent to the paleochannels means that we consider it likely that we will encounter previously unidentified mineralisation in areas where historical exploration has occurred or indeed where drilling has not been carried out because targeting has been based on alternate geological models “This knowledge drives us to explore in the likelihood of identifying additional uranium mineralisation.” EL8’s resource upgrade comes as the uranium market continues to brighten While spot prices have fallen more than 20% since hitting a record high of US$106.40/lb in early February the remain elevated compared to the levels they have traded around since the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 top producer Cameco has flagged during an interview that it might expand some of its mining projects due to increasing demand Meanwhile, Lotus Resources (ASX:LOT) noted earlier this week that it is embarking on a low capital intensity accelerated restart plan for its Kayelekera uranium project in Malawi The Koppies resource is one of the shallowest uranium resources globally with ~95% being within 18.5m of the surface and 50% within 7m of surface The Hirabeb deposit has a similar mineralisation style and resource depth This indicates that a potential low strip ratio and low-cost mining operation is likely at the project which would benefit the overall economics of any future operation EL8 has started a staged approach to demonstrating the value of its proprietary U-pgrade™ beneficiation process on the Koppies resource by potentially rejecting up to 95% of the mined ore mass to produce a low-mass high-grade uranium concentrate prior to the leaching stage It has already completed collecting a representative selection of bulk samples from eight locations across the project for bench-scale metallurgical testing using all stages of the U-pgrade™ process in Perth Data from this testing will feed into the design and construction of a demonstration plant at Koppies to confirm the effectiveness of the process at a demonstration size that is scalable to a fully operational plant This article was developed in collaboration with Elevate Uranium a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing This article does not constitute financial product advice You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions Investor Guide: Energy FY2025 featuring Peter Strachan Get the latest breaking news and stocks straight to your inbox company profiles and industry insights from Australia’s best business journalists – all collated and delivered straight to your inbox every day The Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve offers a network of trails with guided walks and rambles up to nine kilometres long conducted every second and fourth Sunday of the month Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Here are visuals from the ceremony by photographer Shiraaz Mohamed An aerial view as hundreds gathered for the 10th anniversary of the Marikana massacre with the Sibanye Stillwater Marikana mine in the background Families of miners killed in the massacre at a wreath-laying ceremony Families of the deceased miners on the commemoration stage survivors and relatives of victims are still demanding justice Men on horseback ride past the koppies before the ceremony Mineworkers wearing Amcu t-shirts sit on the koppie before the ceremony Many have questioned why 16 August has not been declared a public holiday in commemoration of the killed miners Mineworkers sit on the koppie before the ceremony Amcu President Joseph Mathunjwa addresses the ceremony advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " 🚨🚨POTHOLE ALERT🚨🚨Free State R82 road from Koppies to Kroonstad Send us videos or pictures of Potholes / Flooding areas in the Free State E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0833989119 Meaning: The literal meaning of shirnia-ntanga is "early gardener" but according to MJ van Waremelo and HP Junod this was probably the name of an early local inhabitant This solitary koppie is situated about two kilometers north of Renosterkoppies and in earlier times was probably considered as part of this group of koppies James Stevenson-Hamilton were strewn here by their daughter A memorial plaque in commemoration of the role this couple played the development of the Kruger National Park (KNP) is attached to a large rock at the foot of the koppie N'wamuriwa is the name of a person who lived long ago This large mountain can be found a few kilometers east of Tshokwane The Thskowane game ranger regularly uses this as a look-out point to detect veld fires The smaller hill to the north is known as Nwamuriwana These koppies were an important landmark for old-time travelers It is situated on the main road to Malelane from Skukuza The windmill and small dam to the east of the koppies are known by the same name bombo means "to decide which route to take in the direction in which you want to go especially when someone migrates or moves" Bombo also refers to a ridge or range of mountains This meaning appears to have its origin in the first explanation The local inhabitants probably used the Lebombos as a landmark during their migration southwards to make sure they were still going in the right direction The part of the Lebombo Mountains which lies within the KNP are not as impressive as those parts of the range in Swaziland and Kwazulu Natal It does form a distinct division between the KNP and Mozambique with the international border running along the top of the mountain range This mountain range disappears into the Nwambiya sandveld about 50 kilometers south of Pafuri Meaning: Ngodzi is the Tsonga name for a swarm of black throated canaries (Oiliospiza angolensis) This is not a species which occurs in South Africa but its Tsonga name is also used to refer to a swarm of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea lathamii) the name Ngodzi means 'the place of the red-billed quelea.' Ngodzi is the highest of the three hills to the west of the tar road between Letaba and Shingwedzi which means 'scratches or marks made everywhere.' The hill is situated between Ngodzi and Kaleka originating to the west of the hill and flowing southwards into Shipikani This is the smallest of the three hills to the west of the Tsende and is situated slightly further south originating between the Kaleka and Tsale Hills and flowing eastwards into the Tsende Elevate Uranium (ASX: EL8) has announced an initial JORC Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 20.3 Million pounds eU3O8 for its Koppies Uranium Project in Namibia The company reports that there is potential for ‘significant’ extensions to this mineralisation that is located beneath and adjacent to the resource envelopes Commenting on the Mineral Resource Estimate Elevate’s Managing Director Murray Hill said: “The Company is pleased with the 20.3Mlb eU3O8 mineral resource estimate for Koppies but is even more encouraged by the significant potential for an expansion of this resource Conventional exploration strategy for palaeochannel hosted uranium mineralisation is to assume that uranium mineralisation only occurs within the confines of a palaeochannel as detailed analysis of drilling results at Koppies progressed it became apparent that many holes outside of the palaeochannels and in basement rocks The March/April 2022 drilling program confirmed mineralisation beneath and on the banks of the palaeochannels that led to a change in strategy to drill deeper and beyond the palaeochannel extents “The Company is pleased with the 20.3Mlb eU3O8 mineral resource estimate for Koppies but is even more encouraged by the significant potential for an expansion of this resource” the March/April 2022 drilling also discovered uranium mineralisation at least one kilometre beyond the MRE envelopes The mineralisation is open to the northeast and southwest These outcomes are exciting as they indicate significant potential for the mineralised zones to expand with further drilling This new discovery has not been included in the MRE envelopes We have now adapted our exploration techniques by extending the target areas outside of the paleochannels which will have the potential to increase the Koppies mineralised areas We are excited about the possibility of further extensions to the Koppies mineralised area both below and outside of the known palaeochannels This 20.3 Mlb eU3O8 MRE for the Koppies Uranium Project increases the Company’s total uranium resources to 115 Mlb.” The Koppies Uranium project is located in the Namib Desert region of Namibia and is the first of Elevate’s ‘strategically-located’ tenements Exploration at the project has identified a 6.4km² palaeochannel system with drilling confirming shallow near-surface mineralisation at less than 20m in depth Chilwa starts development talks with Malawi for critical minerals project Chilwa Minerals (ASX:CHW) has initiated the process for securing a mining development.. Green Critical Minerals draws European graphite interest Lion’s legacy investments ‘demonstrating compelling value’ Mid West ‘ideal’ export hub for clean... Zeotech executes MoU with global trading house Hazer forms Kellogg Brown and Root alliance ABC Refinery: Back to the future with... Flagship eyes potential to expand Pantanillo’s mineralisation ASX feeling a bit deflated, gold rebounds      Pacgold accelerates Alice River with new resource Plug-in hybrid EV sales decline amid slowing... Stay Informed on up-to-the-minute mining news Get the best articles straight to your inbox ABC Refinery: Back to the future with Trump’s tariffs06 May Flagship eyes potential to expand Pantanillo’s mineralisation06 May Pacgold accelerates Alice River with new resource06 May Get the latest Mining news delivered straight to your inbox Elevate Uranium (ASX:EL8) will now focus on increasing the confidence of its Namibian resources after boosting the Koppies JORC inferred resource to 57.8 million pounds of equivalent uranium oxide the Koppies resource has climbed 20% while the total Namibian uranium inventory has risen 10% to 103.8 million pounds.  “Further increases of the company’s global resource in Namibia is envisioned as exploration continues,” Managing Director Murray Hill says the company’s focus is on completing infill drilling to convert the inferred resources to indicated resources.  Three rigs are currently undertaking the inferred to indicated resource conversion while another two rigs are carrying out exploration activities at potential satellite projects within trucking distance of Koppies Hill says Koppies is a near-surface resource and one of the shallowest uranium resources globally “Due to the shallow nature of mineralisation and effectiveness of our exploration programs the all-in project discovery cost of the Koppies inferred resource is exceptionally low at US$0.068/lb,” Hill says “The mineralisation at Koppies is very shallow with approximately 95% of the resource within 18.5 metres of the surface and 50% of the resource within 7 metres of the surface.  These parameters imply a potential low strip ratio and low-cost mining operation at Koppies which would be beneficial to the overall economics of any future operation.” Elevate is also planning to collect samples from the Koppies project in April or May for subsequent testing using the company’s proprietary U-pgrade beneficiation process.  Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au