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Riverlands residents in waiting game more than two months after dam burst catastrophe

Riverlands residents in waiting game more than two months after dam burst catastrophe
Riverlands community residents are still without homes after three dams collapsed in Dassenberg near the community. (Photo: Supplied by Community leader, Ralph Burger)
Siyabonga Goni
By Siyabonga Goni
25 Oct 2024
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More than 30 people are still in temporary accommodation in the Riverlands area near Malmesbury, bearing the brunt of three dams that collapsed under the watch of the Land Reform and Development Department, causing flooding that destroyed multiple homes and left the community without proper roads or a steady water pipeline.

Thirty-five people are still placed in temporary accommodation in two community centres in Riverlands (Goedgedacht POP centre and the Love Church) receiving humanitarian aid and care through community donations after three of four dams collapsed more than two months ago causing floods, and destroying residents’ homes.

On 8 August 2024, the wall of one of four dams on a property known as Dassenberg breached, affecting two neighbouring dams and resulting in severe flooding to parts of Riverlands, Chatsworth and Dassenberg, outside Malmesbury. 

Read more: ‘The water was like thunder’ – Riverlands communities devastated after four dams burst in two weeks

Swartland Municipality spokesperson Mart-Marie Haasbroek told Daily Maverick that 35 people were still at the centres, but they were working at resettling them.

Riverlands community residents are still dealing with the aftermath of three dams bursting in Dassenberg near the community. (Photo: Supplied)



“The majority of residents have returned to their places of residence and have started to rebuild,” said Haasbroek.

During the floods in August 2024, 224 people were housed at the local church and a community centre after their homes were destroyed, and over time 189 people left the centres and went back to rebuild their homes, receiving donations of materials to rebuild houses from other community members.

‘People are feeling down’


Community leader Ralph Burger told Daily Maverick that not much had been done in the community and that the people living at the centres wanted their lives back. Speaking for the people living at the centre and those who had returned home, Burger said: “People are feeling down, they are saying no one is giving them a proper answer. We as community leaders cannot give them an answer because we are also not getting a proper answer, and people want to get back to their lives,” said Burger.

The community leader is also calling for the departments involved to provide houses. 

Both Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, and Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, last visited the Riverlands community in August.

Read more on Daily Maverick: 14 people in hospital and 444 receiving humanitarian aid after three dams collapse in Western Cape

An investigation conducted by Majodina and her department in August 2024 revealed that the dams had belonged to the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development since 2019, and they were not registered.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)



Majodina said: “The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development failed to conduct due diligence to ascertain whether the five dams in the property are compliant with the National Water Act and whether the dams are registered with the relevant authority.”

Read more: Land reform department ‘failed to conduct due diligence’ on burst Riverlands dams, probe reveals

Department of Land Reform and Rural Development


In an interview earlier this month with Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, Daily Maverick asked him if he was aware that the dams belonged to his department and that they were not registered. 

He said: “I was not aware (of the dam burst), I saw it on television when I was in the Eastern Cape (in August) and I called the officials about what was happening there. The ministry bought the farm, which is true, but whether the dams are not registered or not I did not know,” said Nyhontso.

Mzwanele Nyhontso Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso. (Photo: Gallo Images / OJ Koloti)



The Department of Water and Sanitation had revealed in a report that the land reform department owned the farm where the dams are located.

“They have given us the report and we are studying it… we are going to come out and give our response, but what is important is that people’s homes must be fixed,” said Nyhontso.

Read more: About-turn — Land Reform Minister Nyhontso explains why he aborted pledge to scrap section 25 of the Constitution

Department of Water and Sanitation ‘Pursuing enforcement actions’


Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Wisane Mavasa told Daily Maverick that the Department had taken administrative action against the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, by issuing a pre-directive on 11 September 2024. 

“The department is pursuing enforcement actions against those alleged to have contravened the National Water Act,” said Mavasa.

Mavasa said that the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development had now given them a representation based on the notice to issue a directive that was issued to it. 

 

One of the Riverlands community resident's homes. (Photo: Supplied)



Flooding damage at Riverside. (Photo: Supplied)



“The Department of Water and Sanitation is currently studying the representation, which will eventually be incorporated into the final report once all allegations to current and previous owners have been engaged/consulted,” said Mavasa.

In August 2024, when Majodina released an investigation report, she said: “The dams were constructed without a licence and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development failed to conduct due diligence to ascertain whether the five dams in the property are compliant with the National Water Act and whether the dams are registered with the relevant authority.

“The previous owners who constructed the dams were required to obtain a Dam Safety licence to construct a dam before commencing with construction. There is no record of any permit/licence being issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The dams were not registered with the Dam Safety Office as per the National Water Act requirement by the owner,” said Majodina.

Water issues


The Riverlands area has been having issues with the water network since the floods destroyed the water pipes in the area. According to Haasbroek: “The water network has been repaired and the restoration of water to the various affected neighbourhoods began on 21 October 2024. Barring any problems, all water should be restored to all beneficiaries by the end of this week. We will, however, continue to keep a few water trucks on standby in case of any problems”. DM

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