Report: Land Reform and Rural Development responsible for collapse of dams in Riverlands
The department owns the Dassenberg property where the dams that collapsed three weeks ago were located.
- Department and Water and Sanitation
- Riverlands dam collapse
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)
The aftermath of flooding in Riverlands, near Malmesbury in the Western Cape, after three dam retention walls collapsed on 8 August 2024. Picture: Melikhaya Zagagana/EWN
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development is responsible for the collapse of four dams in Riverlands.
This is just one of the findings contained in a preliminary report from the Water and Sanitation Department into the cause of the dam collapses.
The department owns the Dassenberg property where the dams that collapsed three weeks ago were located.
It bought the property in 2019 from Agrico Machinery, which bought it from Dassenberg Plaas Pty Ltd.
READ: Owner of collapsed Riverlands dams should have known about the risk - Majodina
The Water and Sanitation Department's probe has revealed that Dassenberg Plaas Pty Ltd, the first owners of the property, allegedly built three of the dams illegally.
Agrico Machinery, the second owners of the farm, then proceeded to construct the fourth dam, also without a license.
The report has also found that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development failed to register the dams when taking over ownership of the farm.
The report further recommends that the department should also consider financial compensation for damage to people's homes and municipal infrastructure.
WC GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING CLASS ACTION FOR RIVERLANDS RESIDENTS
The Western Cape Local Government and Environmental Affarirs MEC Anton Bredell says they're considering helping residents of Riverlands to file a class action suit against those responsible for the collapse of four dams.
The dam failures caused widespread flooding and damaged people's homes and municipality infrastructure.
More than 200 people had to take shelter at nearby community centres.
Bredell says Riverlands residents deserve compensation for their losses.
"I spoke to the Municipal Manager and the Mayor and said to them they must start a class action on behalf of the community. They've lost houses, they've lost their earthly belongings, and I think as a government we cannot stand back."
Bredell thanked the Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina for her transparency in dealing with the matter.