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: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM IN TERMS OF SECTION 24G OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (NEMA) (107 OF 1998) AND NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOCUMENT FOR COMMENT

S24G ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 14/1/1/E1/10/2/3/0774/22

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 6614 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 has 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 Application (WULA) has been made in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA). The following water uses as defined in Section 21 of the NWA have been applied for: 21(a) Taking of groundwater and 21(b) Storage of water.

The Pre-Application S24G Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period from 8 November 2024 to 9 December 2024 and is downloadable via the link below. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 9 December 2024 to register as I&APs and raise any initial issues or concerns related to the project. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report CRR (1) and included in the updated S24G Application Form, which will be available for further public comment for a period of 30 days. A comprehensive Executive Summary (within the letter of notification to I&APs) is also provided as a separate link for download below.

Should you have any comments, issues, or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the 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 9 December 2024.