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History of Gamtoos Irrigation Board
Prior to the establishment of the GIB in 1992, the then "Advisory Board” was approached by the Department with the following proposal: That the farmers establish an IB to take over the operation and maintenance of the scheme, which comprises of the Kouga Dam, Main canal, branch canals and branch pipe lines, balancing dams, office building, stores, workshops and houses.
The motivation for this was that it had become Government policy that full cost had to be recovered, and that being the case, that the people who pay the levies, also operate and maintain the system. The farmers decided this was a good option and the GIB was established and an agreement signed with the Department. During the first 5 years the Department subsidised the Board to ensure a healthy cash flow until it was self-sustainable. With sound financial management the Board succeeded in reaching this target.
Mr Jacobus le Roux tells that many people were rescued by helicopter during the 1971 flood, but tragically many people also drowned during the rescue attempt. These were people who did not understand how to use the harness. They just grabbed with their hands, losing their grip again before they could be dropped at a safe place. He tells that the man in the picture ensured being rescued first – before his wife and children!
Although the biggest flood over the Kouga Dam was measured in 1996, the flow in the Groot River was very low. However, the combined flow in 1971 was much more, resulting in a higher flow in the Gamtoos River.
An interesting world record was set in our region early in the previous century. The following is an excerpt from TOTAL’s "Book of South African Records”:
The world record by heliograph was set by Captain Sadler of the Natal Carbineers in 1911 when, using a 12 cm (5 inch) mirror, he signalled from Compassberg in the Eastern Cape, to Major Home on the Cockscombe Mountain, a distance of 209 km (130 miles).”
The Milton Water Mill +
"The mill was erected early in 1850 by the London Missionary Society (LMS) to grind wheat with the overflow water. The first wheel was from wood, but in 1859 the LMS called upon Mr David Petria White from Scotland to improve the working of the mill. He immediately replaced the old wooden water wheel with a 16 feet iron wheel. He also imported new grinding stones from England.
Mr David White and his son, James managed the mill for 40 years. His other son, John, also joined them at a later stage. David White was a short man, and although only 5 ft 4 inches in height, was immensely strong. He also installed pumps for the farmers in the valley, manufactured wagons and carts and was an excellent shot. He died in 1934 at the age of 103 years.
James White farmed at Milton for a long period and also acted as miller. Later on his son, John milled for the farmers while his father was away threshing.
When water was scarce, they only milled at night when farmers did not use the water. In 1932 the mill was flooded and damaged to such an extent that it was closed down. Later on the machinery was sold as scrap and the building deteriorated to such an extent that only the foundations are left today.
A pity the old mill was not declared a national monument in time so that it could have been preserved.”
In the previous newsletter I have among others, quoted the following from "Die Brullende Leeu Getem” by G F Malan:
In 1932 the mill was flooded and damaged to such an extent that it was closed down. Later on the machinery was sold as scrap and the building deteriorated to such an extent that only the foundations are left today.
A pity the old mill was not declared a national monument in time so that it could have been preserved.”
In the meantime Mr Johan Ferreira from Backhouse Hoek has informed me that the mechanism of the mill still exists and that it was possibly in the possession of Dr Ross Naudé, who farms near Eersterivier. The chairman of the Gamtoos Tourism Association (Mr Radie Ferreira) subsequently contacted Dr Naudé and determined that this was indeed the case. It is apparently almost in working condition and was actually used by his father and grandfather. The mill has, as a matter of fact, sentimental value en he is not willing to dispose of it. Apparently Dr Naudé has done lots of research on old mills. Hopefully we will gather more information and even photographs. It is in any case good that the mill landed in safe hands and is thereby being preserved. We can almost certainly assume that it would otherwise have landed in a scrap yard as indeed suspected by Mr Malan.
Hankey Missionary Station +
Due to the shortage of suitable agricultural land at the mission at Bethelsdorp, Dr John Philip, Superintendent of the LMS was determined to find arable land. In 1822 a down payment was made on the property for use as a "corn farm”.
The town was named after the treasurer of the LMS at the time, William Allers Hankey.
The mission was closed down in 1876 and the land sold by public auction. Although the intention was that the local Khoi people who were farming on that land at that stage, would purchase the land, but not all of them wanted, or were able to buy their land. Most of the buyers were European, changing the nature of the settlement.
Other interesting bits +
The name "Patentie” (currently "Patensie”) is a Khoi word meaning "the resting place of the cattle”.
"Cambria” is a variation of Cumbria – Cymru i.e. "Wales” – and it can be presumed that a homesick Welshman was reminded by the surrounding peaks of his native land.
"Kouga” means "hippopotamus” in Khoi.
"Doodsklip” – death rock: The general story is that it was named as such after a Mr Jannie Stroebel committed suicide in his house near Doodsklip after his farm was bought by the Government. However, Mr Lucas Smit, currently eighty years old, who grew up in the area, says that Doodsklip had its name long before this incident. He was told by his father that the name came from an old man who drowned there while fishing for eels. Apparently he had two lines – one tied to his toe, when he caught an eel, lost his balance and fell into the water.
Het u geweet dat besproeiing in die Vallei reeds plaasgevind het voordat die Philip tonnel in 1844 voltooi is? Volgens "The early history of Hankey” deur Wendy Dilys Coetzee, is ‘n besproeiingskanaal in 1830 deur Mnr James Wait (as kontrakteur) met ‘n klompie ywerige Koi-werkers voltooi. (Die Koi-mense was glo goed gemotiveerd aangesien hulle self ook deur die kanaal bevoordeel sou word). Die kanaal het water uit die Kleinrivier afgevoer tot by Hankey. Die oorsprong was 5,7 km stroom-op van Hankey op ‘n eiendom wat tans aan Mnr Tertius Meyer behoort. Daar is nog orals tekens van hierdie kanaal.
Hierdie vloed het in Mei 1916 plaasgevind. Dit was ‘n baie groter oorstroming as dié van 1905 en geen ander vloed het so ‘n groot eis aan menselewens gestel as hierdie een nie. "The Re-Echo” van 10 Mei 1916 gee ‘n duidelike beeld van die ramp: "Geen woorde kan die verskriklike verwoesting beskryf wat sedert Woensdag deur die Gamtoosrivier aangerig is nie. Op daardie dag het dit orals begin reën en aangehou tot Sondag. Op sommige plekke is 11 duim gemeet en dit word veronderstel dat êrens in die Kougaberge ‘n wolkbreuk moes plaasgevind het. Vrydagoggend om halfdrie het die Grootrivier skielik bo by Andrieskraal afgekom en ‘n halfuur later het die Kougarivier met ‘n vyftienvoethoë golf bygekom. Teen nege-uur het daar nog 3 tot 4 voet water verbygegolf; daarby het die Grootrivier groot massas rooi Karoowaters deurgevoer, en vanwaar die twee riviere inmekaar vloei, is die hele Gamtoosvallei geheel en al oorstroom. Saterdag was die gesig by die Gamtoosbrug skrikwekkend. Vir myle en myle aanmekaar kon ‘n mens niks anders sien as water en nogmaals water nie!
"Die spoorwegbrug oor die Gamtoos (Gamtoosstasie) wat teen die jaar 1912 ongeveer 10 voet hoër gebou is as die oue, was onder water. Dit gee ‘n aanduiding van die omvang van die verskriklike watervloed wat die vallei bedek het. Gamtoosstasie was nou een bruisende rivier en al die geboue is, óf totaal weggespoel óf hulle was geheel en al onder water. Trokke en passassierswaens het wel nog op die spoor gestaan, maar hulle kon net so af en toe gesien word as die golwende water oor hulle spoel.
"Dis byna ‘n wonder dat daar nie meer as 24 mense hul dood in die water gevind het nie”.
Die pont by die mond.
Nadat goewerneur Jansens in 1803 op ‘n reis na die binneland ervaar het hoe moeilik en gevaarlik dit was om die Gamtoosrivier te kruis, het hy opdrag gegee dat ‘n pont gebou word ten einde oorgang te vergemaklik. So ‘n pont is gemaak van sterk plank, min of meer soos ‘n kort drywende brug. Die wa met osse is op die pont getrek, maar daar was net plek vir die wa en ses osse, die ander osse moes op ‘n hoop langsaan staan en kon nie help om die wa op te trek nie. Wanneer die water laag was, moes gewag word totdat die see opstoot sodat die pont gelyk met die walle kon staan. Toue is gespan van die pont na die oorkantste wal en die pont is dan met die hande oorgetrek. Dit was dus ‘n gesukkel om oor die rivier te kom. Daar was baie ergernis en vertragings. Dikwels het dit gebeur dat karre, waens en perderuiters dae lank aan beide kante van die rivier vertraag is omdat hulle moes wag om te kan oorgaan.
Nogtans het die pont vervoer baie vergemaklik, maar dit was ‘n stadige proses as ons daaraan dink dat tot 500 waens per maand die pont moes gebruik.
Brug oor die Gamtoos
Vir meer as 30 jaar was daar agitasies vir ‘n behoorlike brug oor die Gamtoos rivier. Ook die parlementslede vir hierdie deel het daarvoor gepleit. Nadat besluit is om die brug te bou, het dit verskeie jare geduur om die werk te voltooi, veral omdat die rivier se bodem so ongunstig was en geen vaste fondament gekry kon word nie. Uiteindelik is dit voltooi en op 3 September 1895 geopen deur Mev Garcia, eggenote van die Siviele Kommissaris van Uitenhage. Die koste, wat oorspronklik op £20 000 beraam is, is met £4 000 oorskry, veral weens die vertragings om ‘n geskikte fondament te vind.
The tragic drowning of William Philip (31) and his nephew, Johnny Fairbairn (12). (From "The Early History of Hankey” by Wendy Dilys Coetzee).
(William was the son of Dr John Philip. His wife’s name was Alison. He was the master brain behind the Vensterhoek tunnel and canal system. He died only 3 months after the official opening of the tunnel).
"It was on a Tuesday morning after this address, the 1st of July 1845, after morning prayers, that William and Johnny set out for the tunnel. They crossed the Gamtoos at a shallow ford two miles distant from the village, spent two or three hours inspecting the diggings for the water channels and then set off for home at about one o’clock in the afternoon. The boy had often complained that it chilled him to wade through the ford, especially when the water was deep, so on this occasion a flat-bottomed boat was used by them. They never reached the other side. Nobody knew exactly what happened for there was no one in sight to witness the tragic event. About an hour later a Hankey man came by in search of his cattle and noticed a hat floating on the water, which he recognized as belonging to his master. On closer inspection he spotted other items of clothing in the river as well, boots and socks. Finally he saw the boat, turning slowly in mid-stream, so full of water that only its rim was visible.
Hurrying to the tunnel he soon learnt that the missionary and this nephew had left there an hour before, but on making enquiries in the Hankey village he was informed that the party had not yet come home. A large crowd of people, including Alison and Mr Kelly, hurried to the river then, but could find no trace of the missing two. Neither the weeping willows on the riverbank, nor the dark water of the river itself could tell them what had transpired. Attempts to recover the bodies proved fruitless. Later that same afternoon some relatives of Alison’s arrived from Cape Town, and Robert Archibald, her uncle, who was a trained railway engineer, made proper drag-nets to facilitate the search. Towards morning the two bodies were discovered lying close to one another in a deeper pool. The manner of their drowning could at last, and with a measure of accuracy, be determined.
William’s posture in death was curios, one arm being bent as if to enfold a child, the other stretched out to its fullest extent. From this it was deduced that the boy had slipped and fallen in attempting to jump ashore from the boat and that, in trying to save him, William had lost his own balance and fallen too. Once in the water he had striven to support the boy with one arm whilst reaching for the bank with the other, but all to no avail. "The man who had probably steered his ship through the wildest commotions of ocean storms, drowned on a sunny day in a paltry African river” Durant wrote later, and indeed William Phillip’s sudden death sent ripples of shock and lamentation throughout the missionary world. He and his nephew were buried in the missionary garden in what was to become family burial ground, situated beneath the new manse which William had helped build.”
The drownings occurred not far below the current causeway at Milton.
For those who do not know where the graves are, they are just below the Hankey station.
in the Gamtoos Valley
at Hankey from Klein River.
in SA completed after just
over a year. Lenghth: 228m
driven by water from
Dam & water distribution
The Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) was instituted in accordance with the National Water Act. The Board has a contract with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to operate the Gamtoos water scheme...
GIB is managed by a board of Directors, headed by its CEO, Mr. Pierre Joubert. Pierre is backed up by an extremely capable team of committed and diligent staff members with a history of work excellence.
Fred Ferreira Way, Patensie, 6335, Eastern Cape
+27 (042) 283 0382
+27 (042) 283 0329
General 066 470 3782
R Colesky 083 703 0428
A Murray 083 490 1737
L Grundling 083 552 0157
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