Heritage Cases

The Department of Water and Sanitation, Directorate: Strategic Infrastructure Asset Management (SIAM) proposes to conduct scheduled rehabilitation works at Casteel Dam, locally known as Ga-Josefa Dam. Casteel Dam is located on a tributary of the Tlulandziteka River North of Bushbuckridge within the jurisdiction of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga Province. The DWS, Directorate: SIAM conducts Dam Safety Evaluations (DSE) every five (5) years in terms of the Dam Safety Regulation (GN R 139, 24 February 2012) at all departmental dams. Any safety risks identified at these dams are placed on the Dam Safety Rehabilitation Programme (DSRP) for repair. The latest DSE conducted at the dam identified several safety risks and have been placed on the DSRP for scheduled rehabilitation i.e.  The slope on the downstream embankment is unstable;  There is an eroded gully downstream in the spillway channel;  The outlet works are non-functional;  The dam is freely discharging from the spillway to the river;  The spillway capacity is inadequate and requires the dam embankment to be raised. The DWS Chief Directorate: Construction Management proposes to undertake the necessary rehabilitation works at the original dam embankment over a twenty-four (24) month construction period. No expansion of the dam or construction of a new facility is proposed. The project scope of works would include three components i.e. 1) 28 500m2 (2.85 Ha) rehabilitation works at the main dam embankment, spillway section and outlet works. 2) 0.9 Ha Site establishment area northeast of the dam. 3) Upgrading and realignment of the existing gravel access road from the R40 to the dam embankment. An existing access road through Casteel will be used to access the spillway section during the rehabilitation works. The DWS will remove all reeds and vegetation on the spill approach channel and upstream slope along the dam embankment as part of the rehabilitation works. It will promote the free flow of water, prevent spillway blockages and allow for the placement of slope protection material. The site establishment area comprises degraded shrubland that will also need to be cleared to accommodate the site offices.