Durban — A KwaZulu-Natal farmer has been fined more than R1.7 million for illegally abstracting dam water without a Water Use Licence.
That was according to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DSW) who said that it was persisting in its course to ensure that water users that are involved in the unauthorised and illegal use of water resources are brought to book.
Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said that recently it fined a KZN farmer in Estcourt, to the tune of more than R1.7 million for illegally abstracting water from Wagendrift Dam to irrigate his crops without a water use licence.
Mavasa said that the owner of Redlands Farm, which is situated upstream of the Wagendrift Dam, Roy Clifford Braithwaite was illegally taking water from a water resource (Wagendrift Dam) to irrigate crops that are on the Redlands Farm.
He said that the dam which is under Bushmens River Government Water Scheme in the Pongola-Mtamvuma Catchment Management Area, provides water for domestic water supply, agriculture (irrigation) and industrial demands for the towns of Estcourt and Weenan.
Water use licence is a document that is issued by the department in terms of Chapter 4 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) that allows the user to undertake an activity triggered in terms of Section 21 of the Water Act.
Section 21 says a user is required to apply for authorisation to take water from water resources to use for any commercial activity, Mavasa said.
“The farmer was found to have contravened the afore-mentioned section of the regulation after the department uncovered an abstraction point on the bank of dam with no flow meter and that it was illegally pumping water into Redlands Farm for irrigation of crops using centre pivots,” Mavasa said.
He said the Notice of Intention and a directive instructing the farmer to halt the operation of abstracting water was issued after it was found that the farmer did not have permission to use the water.
“However, the farmer did not stop the activity which necessitated the department to take legal steps, using court route to force compliance,” Mavasa said.
DWS’s Director of Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, Thandi Mopai, said the farmer, through his legal representation, approached the department and agreed to pay an admission of guilt administrative fine of R1 770 392.75 within 45 days to avoid criminal charges.
Through the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court, the farmer was issued with an order to pay the fine within the set period, counted from November 24, 2022.
“On November 24, 2022, the Estcourt Magistrate court issued the accused with an order to pay an administrative fine of R1 770 392.75 to the department main account which was provided.
“A mediation agreement was signed after receiving proof of payment and the order made by the magistrate on the same day,” Mopai said.
The department said it will continue in its efforts to root out illegal and unauthorised water use as it impacts negatively on the livelihood of the people as far as water provision is concerned.
Daily News