Raising of dam wall still not finalised
The contentious dam wall raising of the Tzaneen Dam which has been marred in delays is only 10% complete and has once again been put on hold until 2022.
The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, told the Herald that the dam wall raising construction was currently on hold as they await the appointment of an implementing agent.
“The department is currently finalising the appointment of a new implementing agent to proceed with the raising of the dam wall.”
Ratau said the departmental Construction Unit has been appointed as the contractor for the project and Chief Directorate Engineering Services as the engineer for the project.” The dam wall raising was envisaged to alleviate water shortages during drought seasons.
The plan was approved in September 2011 and a decade later the construction is not even halfway. Ratau admitted that there were delays in obtaining the license to start construction due to contractual disputes.
“The appointment of the new implementing agent will minimise the delays in the procurement of services to aid the raising of the dam wall. The implementing agent will facilitate obtaining the license to construct.”
Also read: Tzaneen Dam wall apparently back on track
According to Ratau, the expenditure on the project is currently R98 765 437, which was spent on the designs, stockpiling of the materials for the dam raising and the demolition of the spillway in preparation for the raising.
The estimated total cost at completion is R555 167 500. When it comes to the wall raising being complete, Ratau said that with the assumption that construction would commence at the beginning of 2022, the estimated completion date of the project is June 2023. DA shadow minister of Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson said the constant delays in construction have a devastating effect on water security.
Basson said the delays were largely due to political interference as there were attempts to contract out the construction on the dam instead of appointing the department’s Construction Unit that was well equipped to do the work. “The delay will cost millions more but I believe it will be less than what it would cost if it is done by a private contractor,” said Basson.
