Construction of De Hoop Dam
The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) in 2005 commissioned the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (ORWRDP) with the vision of supplying water to the towns, industries and poorly serviced rural communities in the Sekhukhune District of Limpopo Province. 
Another direct recipient of this development would be the mining sector, which, would be able to access the vast mineral deposits, mainly in the form of platinum group metals, located in the area. Implementing the water resource project in this area of Limpopo was imperative as statistics reflected average dam levels at about 59 percent.
The government appointed Sekhukhune and Associates as the consulting engineers to design and provide construction management. The road is a 27km long, single carriageway with the addition of some passing lanes.
The road pavement structure consists of modified gravels and crushed stone. Intersections are surfaced with asphalt with the balance of the road adorned with chip and spray seal. Implementing the water resource project in this area of Limpopo was imperative as statistics reflected average dam levels at about 59 percent.
Upon completion of construction and project implementation in 2011, more than 800, 000 people in the project area will benefit from improved domestic water supply
Phase Construction Details
ORWRDP is comprised of two main phases with a number of sub phases. Phase 1, now completed, involved raising the Boshielo Dam by five metres to increase its capacity. Phase 2 comprises the implementation of the De Hoop Dam on the Steelpoort River in the short term and bulk distribution system in the middle of Olifants River catchment in the medium to long term, as the need for water services and mining increase.
Phase 2A entails the construction of the De Hoop Dam, the realignment of the provincial road (R555) between Steelport and Stoffberg. This realignment is necessary because the existing road will be submerged by the future dam and therefore needs to be re-routed.
The new alignment of about 20km will pass the new dam on the Western side and includes two bridges over the Steelpoort River. Phase 2B-2I entails the construction of a bulk distribution system to be funded and implemented by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA).
The project will consist of over 300km of pipelines that will vary in diameter from 800mm to 1600mm; various pump stations and storage reservoirs.
The construction of the De Hoop Dam and the associated bulk water distribution infrastructure is valued around R5billion (US$680 million) and municipalities in the area, supported by the national and provincial government, were preparing to invest an additional R3billion (US$ 408million) on infrastructure to treat and distribute potable water to rural domestic and urban users.
Benefits of the Project
Upon completion of construction and project implementation in 2011, more than 800, 000 people in the project area will benefit from improved domestic water supply. Employment opportunities will be the next major benefit to the area as explained by former Water Affairs Minister, Lindiwe Hendriks. “Apart from the direct permanent employment opportunities that will be created by the project, mining and its support industries will stimulate investment of more than R15 million(US$2 million) and create upwards to 90,000 sustainable jobs.”
Environmental Repercussions
Though the proscribed benefits are tremendous, opponents to the project have voiced their concerns as well. Appeals against the RoD (Record of Decision) for De Hoop Dam’s construction have been laid by a number of environmental entities such as South African National Parks, Sa Water Caucus, Endangered Wildlife Trust and other interested parties. Their grievances harp on that fact that the 81 metre-high wall dam, with a capacity of 330 million cubic metres of water, would constrict water flow downstream negatively affecting the ecology.
Furthermore the forced removal of valuable fauna and flora during construction efforts have severe environmental repercussions. Environmental advocates also assert that the economic benefits derived from the short 50-year life cycle of the dam may not be worth the irreparable damage brought upon the integrated river system.
