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Date: 2009-2015 Client: Amathole District Municipality Type: Dam Style: Engineered : Utilitarian Status: Extant   Click to view large map Coordinates: 32°04'01.13" S 29°01'03.23" E Alt: 90m

See more photographs The Mndwaka Dam was built to supply the basic water needs of some 40 000 people living in approximately 63 neighbouring villages in the Mbashe Local Municipal Area. It is the storage component of the Mncwasa Water Supply Scheme. The preparatory work was completed in 2012. The placement of Rubble Masonry Concrete (RMC) in 2013 was then southern Africa’s largest example of an RMC multiple arch-buttress dam. At a height of 30m it is the highest RMC dam yet to be constructed in South Africa. This construction method affords a lower cost on a small scale and in a remote location. However, the high utilization of labour, creating in excess of five times more person-days of employment than would be the case an embankment dam, as well as the insensitivity to floods during construction, makes this particular type of dam construction attractive in rural southern Africa. (ARQ Consulting Engineers) It was the recipient of the: 2017 FULTON AWARDS – EC Branch Commendation: Infrastructure Judges’ Citation: The Mndwaka Dam is a classic example of how a relatively simple construction method such as Rubble Masonry Construction can provide vital water infrastructure to remote rural areas. This RMC multiple arch-buttress dam provides domestic water supply to 63 rural villages. Its height of almost 30 m and its RMC volume of approximately 30 000 m3 makes Mndwaka Dam the highest and largest RMC dam of this type yet constructed in southern Africa. The curving lines of the dam were selected to blend into the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape coastal region, producing an unobtrusive, though striking feature. It is noteworthy that during the construction stage utmost care was taken to minimise the environmental impact. All the materials were sourced, screened and crushed within the dam basin and the scars left from the quarrying and crushing have all been inundated after the first filling of the dam. The use of this type of construction maximised social benefits to the community, not only by being labour intensive which allowed a source of income and upliftment, but also as an opportunity to facilitate the transfer of skills into the local community. Location: Eastern Cape Submitted by: Zana Manzi Joint Venture (Pty) Ltd Client: Amathole District Municipality Principal Agent: Sontinga Consulting Services in association with ARQ Consulting Engineers Main Contractor: Zana Manzi Joint Venture (Pty) Ltd Specialist Sub-Contractors: Rodio Geotechnics (Pty) Ltd Suppliers: AfriSam, a.b.e. Construction Chemicals, Chryso (See ARQ website)