The Unlawful Construction of a Dam on Farm 7/269 Rondegat, Clanwilliam, Western Cape Province: Nema S24G Rectification Process

THE UNLAWFUL CONSTRUCTION OF A DAM ON FARM 7/269 RONDEGAT, CLANWILLIAM, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: S24G APPLICATION FORM AND NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOCUMENT FOR COMMENT

NEMA SECTION 24G RECTIFICATION PROCESS:

DEA&DP Ref No. (Enforcement): 14/1/1/E1/10/2/3/0774/22

DEA&DP Ref No. (Rectification): 14/2/4/2/1/F2/4/0037/24

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: HWC23091915KB0919

On 15 June 2020, the construction of an (off-channel) balancing dam commenced on Portion 7 of Farm No. 269 Rondegat and was completed on 27 August 2020. The dam has an earth embankment wall 9.5 m high (measured from the outside toe of the wall) and a capacity of 6 614 m³. At full supply level, the dam covers an area of approximately 0.28 ha. The dam is lined with plastic for waterproofing purposes. It is noted that the measured height of the dam wall is a function of the slope upon which the dam has been constructed, as a dam with such a small storage capacity and footprint, would ordinarily not have a wall height in excess of 5 m. Two borrow areas were created, one directly east (and upslope) and one to the northeast, of the constructed dam to obtain adequate materials for the earth embankment. An additional small area was disturbed approximately 50 m northwest of the dam. The borrow area directly east of the dam has since been cut and shaped and natural regrowth of vegetation has started to cover the area well.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants have been appointed by Cape Mango (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 Water Use License (WUL) in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA) was issued on 4 February 2025 for the storage of water in the subject dam.

The Draft S24G Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period from 28 March 2025 to 29 April 2025 and is downloadable via the linkbelow. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 29 April 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: capemango.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 29 April 2025.

An electronic copy of the Draft S24G Application Form as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the Dropbox link and/or OneDrive link below: