The Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has clarified its stance on alcohol use, safety rules and ongoing power disruptions at the popular Middelburg Dam resort, a key hub for camping, boating and leisure.

This follows media enquiries from the Observer regarding safety enforcement and public conduct at the dam.

Rules on casual drinking

Addressing concerns about drinking along the water banks, acting municipal spokesperson Sibusiso Chauke explained that visitors do not need special permission for casual drinking.

Chauke said that recreational drinking does not require a temporary event licence and is not strictly prohibited, provided it is for personal use.

“Temporary liquor licences are only mandatory for event organisers intending to sell alcohol,” Chauke said.

However, Chauke warned that this is not an excuse for unruly behaviour.

“Under Section 2 of the Steve Tshwete Parks, Recreation, and Street Trees by-laws, anyone who is intoxicated is strictly forbidden from entering or staying in public open spaces,” he said.

“Campers are also required under Chapter 3(k) of the camping rules to keep their sites clean and ensure they do not cause a public nuisance.”

Water safety and enforcement

With speedboats and motorised watercraft sharing the water with families, the municipality stressed that public safety is paramount.

“Any act threatening public safety at a council facility is treated with extreme seriousness and is not condoned,” Chauke emphasised.

Despite this position, the municipality admitted to limitations in its on-site staffing and confirmed that it does not employ dedicated water safety inspectors, relying instead on South African Maritime Safety Authority officers who are present only ‘from time to time’.

Chauke added that while security guards are stationed at the entrance gates, they do not search incoming vehicles or boats, relying instead on visitors to act responsibly.

Chauke also noted that official quiet hours on the water are strictly enforced between 22:00 and 06:00.

“To date, compliance has been high. The municipality confirms that it has not had to issue fines or impound any vessels for reckless behaviour or liquor violations,” he added.

“Visitors who witness unsafe conditions or reckless conduct are encouraged to report them immediately to on-site security or the municipal call centre.”

Cable theft disrupts water supply

The municipality also addressed frequent power cuts at the dam, confirming that persistent cable theft and vandalism are to blame.

The power disruptions have affected operational pumps at the dam, which in turn have disrupted the water supply to the Vaalbank Water Treatment Plant.

Chauke said the municipality does not currently have backup generators in place to keep critical infrastructure running during blackouts, though repairs are ongoing.

“Our teams are always ready to respond to service disruptions within a reasonable time,” he added, noting that while no fixed timeline has been given for full restoration, repairs depend on the severity of the damage.

“The municipality always sends SMS notifications and Facebook updates about the estimated time of restoration to affected customers based on the damage to the infrastructure.”