BREAKING NEWS: Department of Water and Sanitation updates on the mass death of fish in Hartbeespoort Dam

HARTBEESPOORT DAM – The Department of Water and Sanitation South Africa is aware of the recent incident of fish deaths at the Hartbeespoort Dam and is working with the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University to investigate and analyse samples at the dam to determine the cause of the deaths which occurred on Tuesday, 11 April 2023.

The incident occurred on the Hartbeespoort Dam near Ifafi, at the Ifafi Aquatic Club and the Schoemansville Oewerklub. Hartbeespoort Optimum Fisheries and Research responded to the incident and conducted a brief assessment after which an aerator- a machine that pumps oxygen underwater – was brought which improved the situation. Some fish found alive at the site were removed and relocated to an offsite dam where they recovered. No further fish deaths have occurred since.

Regarding the problem of hyacinth growth at the dam, the Department recently appointed its entity, Magalies Water, to develop a resource management and remediation plan for Hartbeespoort Dam. The aim is to address the poor water quality in the upstream catchment of the dam which leads to the pollution of the dam as well as to minimise and control the algae and hyacinths that compromises water quality and use of the dam. A detailed statement will be issued once the investigation has been concluded.