The revival of the Clanwilliam Dam engineering project has sparked optimism among communities along the West Coast corridor. This positive development follows a recent oversight visit by South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, to the construction site at Clanwilliam Dam.
This ambitious initiative also includes extending the dam wall downstream and elevating it by 13 meters. The additional water capacity generated by these changes holds the promise of supporting resource-poor farmers, promoting food security, and creating employment opportunities for the local community.
Minister Mchunu expressed the utmost priority of his department in overcoming past project setbacks and ensuring its successful completion. The increased water yield from this infrastructure is expected to significantly benefit the livelihoods of people in the region.
Construction cost for the Clanwilliam Dam Project
The project, with a budget of R4 billion, is located on the Olifants River near Clanwilliam in the Cederberg Local Municipality. It stands as one of the largest government infrastructure investments in the Western Cape. The primary focus of this endeavor is to raise the dam wall by an impressive 13 meters, with R400 million allocated for the current fiscal year to move the project forward.
He pointed out that the current dam yields around 123 million cubic meters of water, but when the project is finished, it is projected to yield approximately 343 million cubic meters, nearly doubling the current capacity.
Speaking to stakeholders and residents, Minister Mchunu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, emphasizing the importance of quality water supply to South African households. He highlighted the formation of a dedicated management team for the Clanwilliam Dam project, ensuring its successful revival and completion.
Mchunu acknowledged past delays but assured that the department is dedicated to finishing the project within the revised timelines, budgets, and specifications. The benefits of this project are not limited to the improved water supply; it also offers more than 500 job opportunities and skill development, benefiting the local community and boosting the region’s agricultural sector.
Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Infrastructure MEC, welcomed the project’s revival and noted its potential to accelerate hydro-energy projects and support agriculture in the West Coast corridor. He stressed the commitment of all government spheres and the private sector to the project’s successful delivery.
Local business stakeholders, like Francois Swaartbooi, expressed renewed hope with the revival of the project and established a business forum to ensure local small and medium enterprises benefit from this endeavor. The current construction work includes excavation preparations and geologist inspections, marking a significant step forward in this ambitious project.
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