Over half the dams owned and managed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry do not comply with modern safety standards, but are not necessarily unsafe, said Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Lindiwe Hendricks.
”At present, 160 of the 294 dams owned by my department do not comply with current-day dam safety standards,” she said in a written reply to a parliamentary question, tabled on Thursday.
Hendricks said she was satisfied the water-resources infrastructure managed by her department was safe, and the public need not be concerned.
Due to limited funds and a lack of maintenance in the past, a dam maintenance ”backlog” had built up in her department.
”This does not necessarily mean that these dams are unsafe,” she said.
In order to address the backlog, water affairs had started a Dam Safety Rehabilitation Programme (DSRP) in April 2005.
”National Treasury approved R1,25-billion over a period of five financial years, starting April 1 2006, specifically for this purpose.
”Dams were prioritised, and 42 projects are currently between the planning and construction phases. Rehabilitation of the other dams will be phased in later.
”I want to reiterate that the safety of communities below our state dams is not being placed in jeopardy.”
If any shortcoming in terms of safety at dams was identified, the necessary steps would be taken ”to minimise the risk and to upgrade the structure to acceptable safety standards”, she said. — Sapa