From tragedy to tourism: The story of Shiyalongubo Dam in Barberton
The Shiyalongubo Dam was never officially opened after a 1940 inauguration accident that killed three people, and it is now a recreational site.
High in the Makhonjwa Mountains, overlooking this farming community, lies a dam with a tragic past.
The Shiyalongubo Dam, built 86 years ago, was never formally inaugurated or officially opened.
On the day of its intended inauguration, April 7, 1940, tragedy struck when three people were killed in a freak accident. While preparing for the ceremony, a parked car near the VIP stage began rolling forward due to brake failure.
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The vehicle careened downhill and crashed through the crowd before slamming into the stage, injuring several guests and killing three people.
Barberton town clerk CG Hurd and Kate Tregoning, the mayor’s wife, died at the scene. Fred Wiggins, who was seriously injured, was rushed to Barberton Hospital, where he died the following day.
The inauguration was cancelled, and no attempt was ever made to reschedule the official opening.
In 1939, the government’s Irrigation Department was commissioned by the Low’s Creek Irrigation Board to construct the dam. The aim was to supply water for agricultural use in the valley and to support farmers during droughts.
At the time, the Shiyalongubo Dam was regarded as a major engineering achievement, with water supplied via a tunnel and channel system.
Built in a deep ravine, the dam wall is 25m long and has a storage capacity of 2.36 million cubic metres.
The name “Shiyalongubo” is a siSwati word meaning ‘leave your belongings behind’, referring to the change in temperature as one descends into the valley, where heavy clothing was no longer needed.
In recent years, the dam area has been developed and now offers accommodation, and has become a popular destination for fishing, hiking and mountain biking.
