Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane announced that Mountain View on the Nelsrivier has been recommended as a possible site for the City of Mbombela’s dam.

This was during her State of the Province Address in which she gave her report on local government. The construction of the muchneeded dam was previously announced in 2019. This dam will alleviate the shortage of water supply to the Lowveld.

The premier said preliminary studies had shown that between Boschjeskop Dam on the Nelsrivier and Strathmore Dam, Mountain View was the one recommended. “We were pleased to receive progress from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).”

A large part of the Lowveld is dependent on the Crocodile River for water. Mtshweni-Tsipane said the City of Mbombela’s population has been projected to grow to 800 000 people by 2030.

“This will undoubtedly put pressure on basic service delivery infrastructure, job and economic opportunities,” she explained.

ALSO IN PHOTOS: Ehlanzeni District’s Department of Education hosts its annual awards

The DWS said the prospective date for the construction of such a dam in the Crocodile River sub catchment is set for 2027/28 at a cost of about R1 billion. The department’s spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, previously said the water resource reconciliation and planning would be completed by 2020.

When Lowvelder recently contacted him, he said finding the correct area for a dam takes time.

ALSO READ: DA unhappy with Budget Speech

“The three sites are potential areas that were identified; a lot still needs to be done. It takes years and much research to construct a dam. Various things are done, such as scientific decision and looking at the river flow and the environment,” he explained. According to Ratau, the department’s plans include balancing the water system for the next 25 years.