There is widespread outrage over a proposed government regulation that would impact small business activity in and around South Africa’s major dams.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has proposed new regulatory measures to manage and monitor commercial activity on government waterworks (dams) and adjacent state-owned land. Critics say the move would impose some form of permitting system into a domain that has historically been open public access. They say the proposals would hinder economic activity in towns largely dependent on recreational boating, such as those flanking major dams like the Vaal, Hartbeespoort, and Sterkfontein.
The proposed regulations were published in January by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina.
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), has described the regulation as ‘draconian’. “You will need a permit for this and a permit for that. Even taking photographs will be subject to state approval!” Tshivhengwa told SA online news service Moneyweb.