THE manager of the Rovic diamond mine near Dealesville in the Free State pleaded guilty in the Virginia Regional Court on Wednesday to culpable homicide in relation to the mudslide in November 1996 that killed 20 people. Beeld reports that Pieter Smith, 56, admitted he had been negligent by not properly investigating a sagging in the floor of the mine. Judgment will be delivered on Friday. The business manager of the mine and its managing company Memorex, Jomo King, also pleaded guilty to charges on behalf of the company. Mine supervisor Kobus Olivier said he would plead not guilty; his trial was postponed to January 31.