A large, illegal dam on a Cockscomb farm is leaking and concerns have been raised it could burst, destroy neighbours’ pastures, stock and fencing, and threaten human lives.
The estimated 350m x 80m dam spans the Kariega River and forced the rerouting of a public road when it was built.
After the heavy rains at the start of September, the deviation is impassable and the stability of the dam is in question.
Videos shot last week showed water leaking out the base of the 20m-high dam wall and large cracks in the concrete spillway and the road – and two farmers in the area have warned more rain could cause the dam to collapse.
“It’s leaking now and could leak itself dry but if we have more rain and the level rises over the dam wall it will definitely burst,” one farmer, who asked not to be identified, said.
The provincial environment department said on Tuesday it was assessing the dam and it was one of a clutch of illegal water projects undertaken by farmer Alastair Rudman on his property Welgevonden.
Div de Villiers, head of the Green Scorpions in the Eastern Cape and director of compliance at the provincial department, said Rudman had failed to obtain permits for four different dams and a pipeline.
The department had opened a case against him at the nearby Wolwefontein police station and he had responded by applying for “rectification” of the illegal projects.
Rudman had contracted scientists to do a retrospective study and had presented their report to the department, De Villiers said.
“The [department] assessed this application and will shortly be issuing him with an administrative fine.
“If he pays this fine, his application will be assessed by the department and it may issue retrospective approval, or it may still tell him to demolish.”
De Villiers said the fine could be R5m.
According to a recommendation in the study, Rudman may be compelled to lower the wall of the main Kariega dam by two-thirds.
Water department director of regulation Andrew Lucas said Rudman did not have a permit for his new dam.
“The matter is being addressed but we are going to be visiting the site to do a further safety check,” he said.
DA MPLs Andrew Whitfield and Vicky Knoetze inspected the site last week.
Video footage shot by Whitfield shows water leaking out the base of the dam wall.
Cracks run the length of the spillway and zigzag across the adjoining public road.
In a letter sent to environment MEC Oscar Mabuyane on Monday, Whitfield said the situation was highly dangerous.
“It is my opinion that the collapse of the dam wall is imminent and requires urgent attention to prevent loss of life and property and any further environmental harm.”
Rudman said on Monday he did not know he was supposed to get permits for his water projects and that he was hopeful about the outcome of the retrospective study.
He said the dam spanning the Kariega was just a normal farm dam to irrigate lucern and water was now exiting outlet pipes, which would relieve pressure on the wall.
Provincial transport department spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said Rudman had got permission to divert the road.
“However, the department became aware he or the contractor who built the dam did not follow the guidelines they were expected to follow.
“The department is busy drafting a letter to get Mr Rudman to comply with contents of the approval letter.”

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