If there are no delays, the completion of the raising of the Tzaneen Dam wall is expected to be by March 2025. At the time of the visit, Mchunu said 25% of the project is complete. The storage of the dam will increase from 157.3 million cubic metres to 193 million cubic metres, providing an additional 35.7 million cubic metres.

The beneficiaries of the dam include irrigation, forestry, and the domestic and industrial sectors within the Mopani District, particularly Greater Tzaneen, Ba-Phalaborwa, Maruleng, and Greater Letaba local municipalities, including the Kruger National Park.

Also read: Tzaneen Dam wall – project in progress

The purpose of the project is to meet the projected growing primary water requirements for the next 20 years. It will also minimise the lowering of assurance of the availability of water supplies to the irrigation sector and make water available for the establishment of resource-poor farmers in the irrigated agriculture sector.

A tower crane at the dam has progressed to 46% complete and it is expected to be handed over on May 20. The Tzaneen Dam was completed in 1977 and comprises a mass concrete gravity spillway section flanked by earth-fill embarkments with the downstream slope covered by paving bricks.