Agriculture
(1) (a) When was the construction work to increase the capacity of the feeder canal to the Brandvlei Dam completed, (b) to what extent has the volume of water that can be diverted to the Brandvlei Dam already benefited from the construction work, (c) what was the level of the Brandvlei Dam as a percentage of the dam’s capacity as at the end of August 2022 and (d) what is the condition of the water pumps at the major pump station;
(2) whether maintenance work is done according to schedule; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there have been any disruptions, apart from load-shedding, in the volume of water pumped; if so, what are the relevant details?
[1] [a] The construction works of the raising of the feeder canal is still in progress. It’s on 50.7% to date, according to the Department of Water and Sanitasion.
[b] The issuing of the licence process has started. The first call was advertised.
[c] The Brandvlei dam capacity is at 63% to date. This time last year it was at 72%.
[d] The condition of pumps are operational and pumping.
[2] My Department had been advised that the maintenance work is done according to the maintenance programme.
[3] There has been no disruptions, apart from load–shedding, in the volume of water pumping.
It must be noted that the management of the Brandvlei Dam falls within the mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation [DWS], and in this regard the answers above have been provided by the DWS.
