Following extensive public participation response, DWS announced on Thursday that the draft regulations would now be reviewed.
The department came under fire after publishing its proposed regulations on the management and control of government waterworks in January. The draft regulations would have restricted public access to dams and expanded state control over private property.
“Among the concerns raised by stakeholders are the impact on existing general access for visitors, provisions relating to the development and implementation of Resource Management Plans, and the rights of private landowners where the department has servitude of storage to impound the water of the dams, as well as provisions in the draft regulations related to gill nets,” Mavasa said.
“Based on the comments and input received, it is foreseen that amendments to the regulations will be substantial and that a further round of public consultation will be required.”
Current approved Resource Management Plans (RMPs), already in the process of being implemented, including those affecting the Vaal Dam, have now been placed on hold pending finalisation of the revised regulations.
The department received substantial public concern regarding the authorisation and use of gill nets within dams.
“Following consideration of stakeholder concerns, as well as the potential environmental and safety implications associated with gill net usage, the department intends to prohibit the use of gill nets in the next revised draft of the regulations.
“DWS will undertake additional and more comprehensive stakeholder engagement during the next phase of consultations to ensure that all interested and affected parties have a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the finalisation of the regulations,” Mavasa said.
AfriForum said the proposed regulations represented an unjustified and unlawful attempt to limit public access to dams and increase state control over private property. The organisation said that it would effectively have criminalised long-standing recreational activities such as boating and fishing that have taken place lawfully for decades.
