Klipfontein Dam – what can our guests expect?

KLIPFONTEIN Dam just south of Vryheid has a reputation, it is reputed to be one of the top three fresh-water fishing dams in the whole of South Africa. That is why on February 22 & 23, the KwaZulu Natal fresh-water angling trials are to be hosted by Klipfontein Dam; that is why from March 8-14, the South African fresh-water angling championships are to be held at the dam. Anglers from around the country will be coming to Vryheid. The nature of these championships is usually that the anglers fish all day but are not allowed to stay overnight at the dam. They will spend valuable rands at accommodation establishments in town. They will fill up with petrol here, buy refreshments. They are valuable tourists, in the broad sense of the word. But they will be compelled to spend the whole day at the dam. What will they be faced with in the way of facilities? Well, the roads need attention – they’re fine for bakkies but cars might have a problem. A grader would not go amiss at Klipfontein. But the problem is that on February 7, thieves stole the cable to the borehole pump, so no water is reaching two of the three ablution blocks. The one round the corner, opposite the pumping tower, is supplied with water via Inkamana, and on Sunday was operational. A visit from a plumber would soon sort out the leaks at the urinal (which was sending out a spray of water across the floor) and a couple of toilets have faulty ball-valves. The other two ablution blocks are hideous. There is no water, and presumably some people nevertheless prefer to defecate indoors. Someone has put a sign up requesting people not to “poo”, but some people cannot read or were really desperate. A local angler, who wishes to remain anonymous, said last week that it was “a disgrace that visitors to our town have to see this.” He said that apparently the municipality had sent someone to inspect the site of the borehole cable theft, but that nothing had been done since.