By Carien Kruger
The raising of the wall of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape will unlock new water rights earmarked for emerging farmers.
The raising of the wall is part of the Olifants-Doorn River Water Resources Project (ODRWP) currently under way. The National Department of Water and Sanitation said in a media release the completed project will supply raw water from the Clanwilliam Dam to the farmers, municipalities, mines and industries in the Olifants River Valley between the dam and the estuary (river mouth).
Kobus Steenkamp, chief executive officer of the Lower Olifants Water Users’ Association (Lorwua), said existing water users farmed with citrus (mostly those who are members of the Clanwilliam Water Users’ Association), table grapes, wine grapes, raisins and vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers.
Pemmy Majodina, minister of water and sanitation, visited the construction site of the Clanwilliam Dam in March and said the raising of the dam wall was one of the mega projects prioritised nationally.
“The project will not only determine the safety of the dam but will also bring economic spin-offs to the area of Clanwilliam and its surroundings,” said Majodina.
The completed project will improve the dam’s safety standards under high flood conditions but will also improve assurance of water supply to the existing irrigators.
The newly renovated dam will increase its annual yield by approximately 70 million cubic metres per year, thereby benefitting and developing the emerging and small-scale farmers in the area, said the department.
Steenkamp told African Farming existing water users were extremely happy that progress was now made with this project, which had been delayed multiple times since work started.
He said the main aims of the project were:
- Making the dam wall safe for heightened flood circumstances, in order to comply with the standards of best practice for dam safety.
- To provide in the ecological needs of the river.
- Increased water security for existing water users.
- With the greater capacity water could be made available to historically disadvantaged individuals/emerging farmers.
DA will keep department to its promise to emerging farmers
In the national council of provinces (NCOP) the DA called on the department to match its commitments with action regarding the much-anticipated downstream infrastructure linked to the Clanwilliam Dam wall raising project.
According to Rikus Badenhorst, DA member of the select committee for water and sanitation, the project was initially approved in 2007, with construction expected to start shortly thereafter.
However, due to funding constraints, bureaucratic delays and design revisions, actual construction only began in 2018. The project has since faced multiple setbacks, pushing the expected completion date to 2028.
The cost of the project in 2018 was R2 billion but this has now increased to R5.7 billion with a current completion rate of 21%.
“According to the minister of water and sanitation, three critical irrigation schemes – Jan Dissels, Right Bank Canal and Ebenhaeser – are planned to unlock nearly 5 874 hectares for agricultural development, prioritising emerging and restitution farmers.
“These developments are however only projected to begin construction in 2028, contingent on processes such as environmental impact assessments (EIAs), funding approvals and land acquisitions.”
Badenhorst said the DA will intensify its oversight to ensure the department’s commitments translate into real benefits for the people who need them most.
The party hold the Department of Water and Sanitation accountable to:
- Deliver on timelines to avoid perpetual delays.
- Ensure transparent and fair beneficiary selection for emerging farmers.
- Secure the necessary budget allocations without compromising delivery.
- Monitor the construction and quality of downstream infrastructure that enables equitable water access.
Also read:
An affordable dam you can build yourself
