Agriculture:

[a] On 8 October 2018, the Minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS) officially launched the project for the construction of the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam.  The Department’s Chief Directorate: Project Implementation was to manage the project valued at R 3,268 billion.

However, the Department experienced challenges and failed to procure a number of essential sub-contracts. The onset of the Covid 19 pandemic during March 2020 resulted in additional delays. In order to circumvent the delays and expedite construction progress, the Department considered and investigated the appointment of the DBSA as an implementing agent. 

On 27 November 2021, with construction completion at 12%, the Minister of Water and Sanitation visited the Clanwilliam Dam and assured stakeholders of his Department’s commitment to resolve challenges related to the project's implementation.  The Minister also promised the community that work on the dam would commence by March 2022. As the Minister wanted the project to be implemented as a matter of urgency, the appointment of the DBSA as the implementation agent was put on hold and the Department’s Chief Directorate: Project Implementation was instructed to immediately resume procurement of important goods and services. 

However, on 25 February 2022 National Treasury [NT] advised organs of state that the procurement of tenders advertised on or after 16 February 2022 may not proceed.  Fortunately on 09 April 2022 the Department’s CFO advised that the Department received exemption from the restrictions and that the procurement of urgent goods and services may proceed.

Following this delay to  the procurement process and on the assumption that all key suppliers and subcontractors can be appointed by end September 2022, the construction program of 54 months was updated with an estimated completion date set for April 2027.

At present the construction progress is still at 12% completion.

[b] The Department of Agriculture [DoA] serves on the Clanwilliam Dam Bulk Conveyance Infrastructure Bridging Steering Committee. Eleven areas were identified and prioritised for future irrigation development. The proposed areas for new irrigation development, totalling 5874ha, will be served by secondary irrigation schemes namely: Jan Dissels, Clanwilliam, Zandrug, Bulshoek, Zypherfontein 1 and 2, Trawal, Melkboom, Klawer Phases 1 and 2, Coastal 1 and Ebenhaeser.

It is proposed that three of these irrigation schemes be government owned and be funded by National Treasury (the balance being privately owned schemes):

1. Jan Dissels                                                    462ha      R    95.7 million

2. Right Bank Canal

[Zypherfontein 1 and 2, Trawal, Melkboom]      2339ha     R  1 995 million

3. Ebenhaeser                                                   361ha       R    601 million

[c] [i] As in the past, the WCDoA will continue to be closely involved and render support to the various activities associated with the planning and implementation of the Clanwilliam Dam project and secondary irrigation schemes. The development of mega projects of this magnitude has a long term implementation timespan and requires the collaborative efforts of various government departments together with the private sector. Construction of the Clanwilliam Dam is expected to be completed in 5 years and it is estimated that the completion of the secondary irrigation schemes will probably take another 5 to 8 years for implementation and completion.

[ii] In the future,  and prior to the WCDoA granting financial support for on-farm development and training, various developmental aspects have to be addressed and clarified. Towards this purpose it is appropriate that an intergovernmental Project Coordinating Committee be established to facilitate the various outstanding developmental processes i.e. aquisition of agricultural land and servitudes, environmental authorisations (which is currently in process for the three state owned irrigation schemes), develop a water use licencing criteria and equity ownership models, call for water use applications, finance arrangements and the securing of budgets, engineering design and construction. As the three secondary irrigation schemes will be government- owned it is advisable that the DWS champion the proposed Project Coordinating Committee.