What is happening at the Tzaneen damwall ?

Exploratory of parts of the Tzaneen damwall was not due to vandalism as many speculated on social media. Preparatory work is being done to ultimately raising the wall.

It is not vandalism.

A photo was posted on Facebook by Leonie Jansen van Rensburg raising concerns about what is happening at the dam wall

According to Sputnik Ratau, spokesperson for Water Affairs, exploratory of parts was to test and see what kind of materials was used when the wall was built back in 1974.

It will not compromise the structure.

“The wall will be rehabilitated and at a later stage, the wall will be raised,’ he said.

Geopractica, a South African based specialist geo-technical company is tendered to do the job.

They are busy drilling a hole of 25 meters long to test the materials that was used to build the damwall.

Exploratory of parts of the Tzaneen damwall was not due to vandalism as many speculated on social media. Preparatory work is being done to ultimately raising the wall.

A few facts about the dam found in a book called Tzaneen- 1975:

After the dam was built, it was calculated that it would take three years to fill.
However, it started to rain on February 1977 and by April the dam was overflowing.
The dam has been known under three names: In the first 1968 White Paper it was referred to as the ‘Doornhoek dam’; after it was built, it officially became the ‘Fanie Botha dam’; Whilst the popular name is Tzaneen dam.
Its capacity is 154 million cubic meters and its total water area at full supply level is 1163ha.
The total shore-line is an impressive 79km.