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The Department of Water and Sanitation in South Africa has taken decisive action against the owner of Riverlands dams following a catastrophic failure that resulted in significant damage to the town of Riverlands. At a recent media briefing in Pretoria, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina highlighted the first 100 days of her ministry's tenure, pointing out the several inter-linked, privately-owned dams that failed near Riverlands in the Swartland Local Municipality of the Western Cape.
The minister detailed how these dam failures caused widespread destruction to municipal infrastructure and residences. Upon visiting the disaster site and meeting with affected residents, it became clear that crucial regulations had been sidestepped. The original farm owner did not secure approval from the department for the dam designs, which the law mandates. Subsequent owners also neglected to have the dams adequately registered, violating the National Water Act. Consequently, regular inspections were not conducted, which would have possibly detected and prevented the eventual collapse of these structures.
In response to these findings, a directive was issued for the safe decommissioning of the damaged dams, with further investigations pending to determine the extent of the liability for the damages incurred.
Beyond the Riverlands dam issue, Majodina also reported on the progress of the review into the Jagersfontein Tailing Dam failure. A detailed technical report has been finalized and sent to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following last year's tragic event that resulted in fatalities and property damage. Criminal charges have been laid against the dam's owners, with the NPA now responsible for taking the necessary legal steps.
The Hammanskraal Water Project was also discussed, with the upcoming launch of its first phase set to provide an additional 12.5 megalitres of water to the area. This R750 million project, under the oversight of the Magalies Water Board, aims to significantly improve the quality and supply of drinking water in Hammanskraal.
Finally, the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle between Rand Water Board and Emfuleni Local Municipality was announced, demonstrating the department's efforts to combat sewage pollution. This initiative follows a sizeable R7.5 billion Rand Water intervention that has successfully reduced the frequency of sewage spillages in the Emfuleni municipality. With legal requirements including National Treasury approval pending, this Special Purpose Vehicle is poised to further enhance the effectiveness of water management in the area.
The Department of Water and Sanitation shows a strong commitment to upholding dam safety standards and improving water infrastructure across South Africa, demonstrated by their swift action in the face of these recent water-related challenges.