Building of the Tzaneen Dam wall is apparently back on track.
According to Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, the department has received the designs of the construction from Lepelle Northern Water. “These are now in the hands of the department’s construction unit who will take up the work.”
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He did not say when work is about to start, but it is understood to be soon. “The timeline that is envisaged is for the work to be completed during the 2020/2021 financial year.”
The construction of the wall has been a matter of concern to residents from as far back as 2016 when the first phase of the raising the wall started.
In March 2018 the Letaba Herald reported that the stockpiling stage was completed in March 2017 and was followed by the demolition of the spillway.
Ratau was quoted saying the demolition works were completed at the end of February 2018, and the contractor that was appointed for the demolition works has de-established the site camp which included removal of a container. At the time Ratau further eluded to the fact that the procurement processes for the appointment of a contractor to carry out the raising of the dam wall works has commenced.
“On appointment of a contractor and subsequent commencement of construction, it is expected that the construction stage for the raising of the dam wall to be approximately 18 months.”
In July last year, a public stakeholders meeting were held in Tzaneen.
Chief engineer of the project, Thabo Hloele, then promised “that procurement measures were to be done by December last year and commencement will start as of January 2020”.
It is envisaged that once the raising of the wall has been completed, the dam’s capacity will raise with 20% and that it will alleviate the region’s water problems in times of drought. It will also provide water for agricultural and other activities up to the Kruger National Park.
