After a six-year legal battle, a settlement in the Pretoria High Court found that the funds used by the Guptas to purchase the mine were acquired through corruption.

As a result of that ruling, the court decided that Optimum and its Richards Bay export terminal were to be placed under the control of Liberty Coal.

Read more here: https://www.citizen.co.za/middelburg-observer/news/2024/02/06/breath-of-life-for-optimum-with-npa-forfeiture-settlement/

During the legal process, over 2 000 Optimum jobs were at risk, with the mine workers staging elaborate protests, such as burning coffins.

Read more here: Over 2 000 Optimum workers face unemployment

Fortunately, over 500 jobs will be saved due to the mine resuming production as a functioning entity.

Optimum has stated that the reopening of the mine is set to be a “historic moment” and a “momentous occasion”, where the first Transnet allotted train will arrive at Liberty Coal’s Optimum Mine at 16:00, to load the first consignment of coal to the Liberty Coal terminal in Richards Bay.