The Rectification Of The Commencement Of Works Within A Watercourse, In Respect Of The Repair Of A Dam Wall, On Portion 8 Of Farm No. 842, Malmesbury, Western Cape Province: Nema S24G Rectification Process

THE RECTIFICATION OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORKS WITHIN A WATERCOURSE, IN RESPECT OF THE REPAIR OF A DAM WALL, ON PORTION 8 OF FARM NO. 842, MALMESBURY, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT S24G APPLICATION FORM FOR COMMENT

NEMA SECTION 24G RECTIFICATION PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 14/2/4/1/F5/16/0005/25
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: HWC25012404EJV0124
General Authorisation Ref. No.: WU39478

Lammershoek Farms & Winery (Pty) Ltd completed the repair of the Welgelegen dam wall and repair of an access bridge downstream of the dam wall on Portion 8 of Farm No. 842, approximately 9 km southeast of Malmesbury, in the Western Cape Province, in March 2024, without Environmental Authorisation. The repaired dam is an in-stream dam of the Diep River with a repaired wall height of approximately 7.8 m (from the outside toe of the dam), a current capacity of 112 000 m³, to be increased to the registered 150 000 m³ and a footprint of approximately 3 ha at the full supply level.

On 25 June 2023, the Welgelegen dam failed due to water levels rising above the crest level of the dam wall, leading to the complete failure of the dam wall. The dam, originally constructed in 1984, is a registered dam with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) under registration number 12/2/G202/65. The registered name of the dam is “Welgelegen Dam,” with a registered wall height of 6 m, a water surface area of 3 ha, and a storage capacity of 150,000 m³ and is an instream dam that is filled by the Diep River. The point to which the dam was repaired (before the Applicant was instructed to stop works) was surveyed and registered with the dam safety office with registration number G202/AO, a wall height of 7 m, storage capacity of 112 000 m³ and a surface area of 2 ha. Should environmental authorisation be granted, the dam repair will be completed to its initial registration surface area of 3 ha and storage capacity of 150 000m³ . The Water User Registration certificates have been amended and approved on 4 September 2025 for the purpose of repairs to the dam wall and spillway, and the storage of water.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants have been appointed by Lammershoek Farms & Winery (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process for the project (in this case a Section 24G process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014). A General Authorisation in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA) was issued on 13 March 2025 for repair of the subject dam wall and spillway.

The Draft S24G Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period from 1 October 2025 – 31 October 2025 and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 31 October 2025 to submit comments related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report CRR(2) and included in the Final S24G Application Form, following which the Application will be submitted to the DEA&DP.

Should you have any comments, issues, or concerns regarding the project or the findings of the Draft S24G Application Form, please provide your comments in writing to Ms. Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: lammershoek.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 31 October 2025. An electronic copy of the Draft S24G Application Form as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the OneDrive link below: