The Kruger National Park (KNP) in conjunction with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will demolish the remaining part of Kanniedood dam found on the S50, about 9km south east of Shingwedzi Camp.
The demolition operation will be conducted from November 29 until December 6. Explosives will be used to demolish the structure; after which the rubble will be removed as part of the rehabilitation process undertaken by the Expanded Public Works, Biodiversity Social Program.
“To ensure safety of tourists, all roads in the areas will also be temporarily closed during this period.
The affected roads are the S50 gravel road,it will be closed from S50 and S134 junction in Shingwedzi to the S50 and S143 junction in Mooiplaas,”. said the General Manager: Communications and Marketing, Isaac Phaahla.
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Further safety measures have been put in place as follows:
• KNP ranger teams and SANDF fire fighting teams will be on stand-by to extinguish any wild fires that may arise.
• The area around the target structures will be cleared on the ground to ensure animals and human beings are safe;
• An aerial flight will be dispatched to the area immediately prior to detonation to ensure no tourists, animals or staff members are near the target.
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Kanniedood dam wall was breached by the floods in January 2013 on the southern anchors of the wall causing the river to open a new channel by passing the dam wall on the southern bank of the Shingwedzi River. The wall thus became redundant after the floods because it could no longer serve the purpose of retaining water.
“KNP has an artificial water provision policy which allows for the closing and removal of artificial water points. Artificial water holes where water did not previously occur naturally have led to numerous ecological problems such as erosion and other environmental degradation (such as barriers to fish migration routes)”, explained Phaahla.
Conservation management has taken steps to rectify these negative consequences by closing and demolishing certain artificial water holes. To enhance tourist experience, alternative game viewing opportunities will be provided in the future at areas of naturally occurring surface water
