A Western Cape court has slapped a farmer, accused of water and environmental transgressions, with a R3.5 million fine.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said its cooperation with the Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), as well the as National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Assets Forfeiture Unit, resulted in Tierhoek Boerdery Pty (Ltd) receiving the hefty fine.

The matter first appeared in the Clanwilliam Regional Court in March 2018, culminating in the fine being meted out on Friday.

“The Boerdery was taken to court following allegations of unlawful water activities. Tierhoek first appeared in court after the DWS conducted the first Monitoring and Enforcement Blitz in the West Coast region during Enforcement Month of November 2017,” said the department.

Following further investigations, six more charges were added resulting in a total 11 criminal charges.

The farm owners were found guilty of all charges. Out of the 11 counts, six related to water, while five related to environmental transgressions.

The water related counts are as follows:

• Contravened Dam Safety Regulation 4(1) of National Water Act, 36 of 1998 by unlawfully and intentionally failed to apply for a licence to construct the dams with safety risk without permission from the Director General of the department.
• Contravened Regulation 10 of the Safety of Dams Regulations where he constructed category 2 dams without relevant documents.
• Contravened Section 120(2) , 151k and 151(2) of NWA, 36 of 1998 and Regulation 37 of the Regulations of the Safety Dams where he unlawfully and intentionally failed to register the dams with safety risk within 120 days and submit registration documents to the department after completing constructing the dams.
• Contravened Regulation 3 pertaining to the registration of water use.
• Contravened Regulation 7 pertaining to the registration of water use by unlawfully & intentionally failed to be in possession of a registration certificate to use water.
• Contravened section 151(1) (a) and section 151(2) of NWA 36, 1998, sections 21(b) and 22(a-c) of the act by unlawfully and intentionally failed to comply with the act by storing water without authorisation.

For these contraventions, the offender was instructed to make a payment of R1 250 000 to the DWS, while R1 250 000 will go to DEA&DP, while the NPA will get R1 000 000.

Director for Regulation at the department, Boniswa Hene, said the court decision should serve as a deterrent to other National Water Act offenders.

“Government acknowledges that the farming community also plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the country. However, we encourage every water user to respect the law.”

Hene called on other potential transgressor to come forward and exercise voluntary compliance with water and related laws.