An aerial photo of the construction of the dam. Photo: Tzaneen ‘75
Published in the 24 May 1968 edition, the article outlined the complexities involved with the construction of the dam.
At the time, the proposed dam was referred to as Doornhoek Dam as the site approved for the construction of the dam in 1968 was on the farm Doornhoek. A number of potential areas had been surveyed but the Doornhoek site was deemed the most appropriate, with a catchment area above the site of 652 sq. kilometres with most of it being in a high rainfall area.
In 1967, a presentation was given to request the building of the dam.
Original plans published in a 1968 publication of The Impala newspaper.
It would become the second dam in the Letaba region, and the proposal was put forward after enormous pressure was being put on the then newly built Ebenezer Dam.
As the population of Pietersburg (Polokwane) was growing, it was decided to draw water from the Ebenezer Dam to supply the demand as Dap Naude Dam was falling far short of the water consumption demand of Pietersburg. Tzaneen then suffered the effects of the water shortage. The presentation was given to Parliament by D.C.H Uys, the then Minister of Water Affairs and was supported by the Deputy Minister, S.P. ‘Fanie’ Botha. Soon after however, Fanie Botha would become the Minister of Water Affairs. At the time, the Chairman of the Town Council put a motion in place for the planned dam to be named ‘President Jim Fouché’ dam.
It was deemed fitting after the Kruger National Park had been named after the President Paul Kruger due to his involvement in the establishment of the Park.
The President at the time, Jim Fouché, had previously served as Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and Water Affairs from 1966 to 1968 and so it seemed apt to celebrate him and his involvement with the proposal of the dam by taking his name. However, upon completion in October 1976, it was officially named the ‘Fanie Botha’ dam.
Why the name was changed from the original plan of ‘President Jim Fouché’ dam to ‘Fanie Botha’ dam is difficult to say. Now, the dam is known simply known locally as the Tzaneen Dam. Why its official name seems to have fallen away is also a bit of a mystery.
