THE construction of the De Hoop Dam at Buffelshoek village in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo has sparked an uproar between the villagers and the Department of Water Affairs.

The village is located at the foot of the dam basin and during rainy seasons water flows into the settlement, damaging crops, houses, furniture and livestock.

Construction of the dam started in 2007, with the primary aim of addressing the chronic shortage of water.

Dispute

Villages around the dam and parts of Waterberg, Mopani and Capricorn stood to benefit from the dam.

In 2008 the national Department of Water Affairs declared the area a controlled forestry area.

The department wrote a letter to the community prohibiting them from doing further building in the area.

It said the piece of land, which the community used as a residential area, had been bought with the sole aim of building the dam.

"The erection of structures such as houses, huts and other developments on this land is strictly prohibited," the letter to the villagers says in part.

Spokesperson for the community Silas Kgopa said they had written to the the Presidency on several occasions for help, but nothing had come of it.

He said before the construction the department had promised to relocate the community to another area far from the dam.

Limpopo chief director of water affairs Alson Matukane said the community's plight was receiving attention. He said a committee had been formed to speed up the relocation process.