Paddling 67km for Tata, Shongweni Dam
CONSERVATIONISTS Greg Vogt and Sara Agostini will set out to paddle 67km today to kick-start their project to restore Shongweni Dam reserve, outside Hillcrest, to its former glory and forms part of Nelson Mandela Day centenary celebrations.
The area has been the subject of a protracted land claim and was abandoned by Msinisi Holdings which ran the reserve for many years.
“We are reviving the Shongweni Reserve as mandated by the Zwelibomvu community who were awarded the claim in 2013. However, they only received the property on July 1, 2018,” said Voigt, who spearheads the organisation Conservation Guardians.
The dam has for many years been the home of Umzinyathi Canoe Club and popular training base for paddlers in Upper Highway. It has played host to national marathon and sprint events as well as the last African Sprint Championships and Olympic Sprint qualifiers.
The future of the venue was under threat after the clubhouse was largely destroyed and sections of the site vandalised.
Vogt, 57, is adamant that with the local community supporting them, they can rescue the reserve, starting with building the essential perimeter fencing.
“The fences that keep these animals safe have never been maintained and today the herds of giraffes, buffaloes and the other animals are at risk and exposed to various threats. That is our first task as custodians.
“We are challenging paddlers all over the world to make a donation of one unit of their local currency for every kilometre Sara and I plan to paddle on Mandela Day,” said Vogt.
“We haven’t done all that much training so it will be a challenge, but there is such a passion in the community to rescue this reserve that we have to start somewhere.”
The duo left at first light today and are encouraging as many paddlers to join them for the usual club time trial starting at 5.15pm, their last 8km.
“The response has been amazing,” said Vogt.
“There are paddlers across the country who will be doing a paddle in support of this initiative at their local clubs, simply because they have a connection with Shongweni or understand its significance to South African canoeing.
“There are also paddlers abroad who will be paddling in support, and their donations in euros or pounds will go a long way.”