ATTEMPT TO SAVE DONALDSON DAM!!

Hi Guys

I booked a spot at Donnies the past weeknd and was told that the grass was not cut and also that the water grass was not that bad.

On our arrival friday evening we paid at the office to drive into a totally empty venue(There was NO ONE THERE). As we drove on we noticed the water grass and its BAD all over except swim 20. We then decided not to stay for safety reasons and also to avoid the frustration of the water grass.

We then went back to the office to get our money back and there was no one there either not even a burning light. As i turned around to get my phone to phone Kwezi(new Manager) he drove in and already had my cash in his hand to refund me.

He explained to me that the reason he told me things wern't so bad is so that i could come and look for myself what a mess the place is so that more people can complain and maybe then something would be done about it. He then gave me an E-mail address and asked me to please complain about EVERYTHING that bothered me concerning donnies and also get as many people to complain to this E-mail address as this might help him in getting a budget to sort out the venue. There is also a FAX No. All im asking is that everyone that is willing to complain please do so to the mail address provided aswell as to the fax no.

This is a a desperate attempt to save donnies^^..

E-Mail ksithole@wrda.co.za or FAX 0116921560

I would of posted a photo but it was already too dark to get a detailed pic of what the place really looks like.

Fisher-Holic wrote:

Hi Guys

I booked a spot at Donnies the past weeknd and was told that the grass was not cut and also that the water grass was not that bad.

On our arrival friday evening we paid at the office to drive into a totally empty venue(There was NO ONE THERE). As we drove on we noticed the water grass and its BAD all over except swim 20. We then decided not to stay for safety reasons and also to avoid the frustration of the water grass.

We then went back to the office to get our money back and there was no one there either not even a burning light. As i turned around to get my phone to phone Kwezi(new Manager) he drove in and already had my cash in his hand to refund me.

He explained to me that the reason he told me things wern't so bad is so that i could come and look for myself what a mess the place is so that more people can complain and maybe then something would be done about it. He then gave me an E-mail address and asked me to please complain about EVERYTHING that bothered me concerning donnies and also get as many people to complain to this E-mail address as this might help him in getting a budget to sort out the venue. There is also a FAX No. All im asking is that everyone that is willing to complain please do so to the mail address provided aswell as to the fax no.

This is a a desperate attempt to save donnies^^..

E-Mail ksithole@wrda.co.za or FAX 0116921560

I would of posted a photo but it was already too dark to get a detailed pic of what the place really looks like.

Click to expand...

So sad to hear that this place has gone to the dogs, strange how ppl always complained bout oom lourance but it seems like he wasn't much of a problem compared to not having anyone there at all to man the dam..

a prime spot is now not even safe to fish anymore..

Sad.. Donnies had some very nice fish, never caught any big fish there as I only did two sessions, but seen many of my friends catch fish up to 18kg..

Hope they do something to revive that dam!!

well maybe they can with our help, Kwezi said the more complaints he gets the more chance he stands to get a budget to sort out the venue. Try and if nothing comes from it then atleast we did something instead of nothing

I have forwarded our previous mail to this guy as well.


To whom it may concern,


My name is Francois Pretorius and I am the chairman of the South African Carp Society, it has come under our attention that Donaldsons Bottom lake has fallen into total disregard. We would like you to look at what we do with venues on our website www.sacarpsociety.co.za , we suggest that Donaldsons bottom lake could and can be managed in the same way.

What is the great advantage of making this a SACS managed venue? Well firstly job creation as we are a non profit organization with the sole focus on the development of the sport, so all income generated at the venue will go to the managing body / owner of the land, this money can be used to keep the venue in good condition and pay the person who gets put in charge of the facility to look after the upkeep and daily tasks, it will also go towards paying of security personal to keep a level of security at all times!

This is a beloved dam by many anglers and we cannot let it go to waist like this, there is huge potential to have this venue filled with anglers almost 365 days a year. If you look at about 30 anglers every weekend, not even talking about anglers who use the facility for 3 -7 day long fishing trips, you are looking at R100 per angler per weekend so that is more than R12 000.00 a month just looking at weekend income.

Please afford us the opportunity to meet with you and show you what great potential this venue holds for the town of Randfontein and its people.


Kindest regards,

Francois Pretorius
South African Carp Society
Chairman
E-Mail: chairman@sacarpsociety.co.za
Cell: 079 494 8491
Fax: 086 692 0088

Spinedok wrote:

I have forwarded our previous mail to this guy as well.


To whom it may concern,


My name is Francois Pretorius and I am the chairman of the South African Carp Society, it has come under our attention that Donaldsons Bottom lake has fallen into total disregard. We would like you to look at what we do with venues on our website http://www.sacarpsociety.co.za , we suggest that Donaldsons bottom lake could and can be managed in the same way.

What is the great advantage of making this a SACS managed venue? Well firstly job creation as we are a non profit organization with the sole focus on the development of the sport, so all income generated at the venue will go to the managing body / owner of the land, this money can be used to keep the venue in good condition and pay the person who gets put in charge of the facility to look after the upkeep and daily tasks, it will also go towards paying of security personal to keep a level of security at all times!

This is a beloved dam by many anglers and we cannot let it go to waist like this, there is huge potential to have this venue filled with anglers almost 365 days a year. If you look at about 30 anglers every weekend, not even talking about anglers who use the facility for 3 -7 day long fishing trips, you are looking at R100 per angler per weekend so that is more than R12 000.00 a month just looking at weekend income.

Please afford us the opportunity to meet with you and show you what great potential this venue holds for the town of Randfontein and its people.


Kindest regards,

Francois Pretorius
South African Carp Society
Chairman
E-Mail: chairman@sacarpsociety.co.za
Cell: 079 494 8491
Fax: 086 692 0088

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:thankie

Hi

The email address ksithole@wrda.co.za does not work, please check the address and let me know.

Spinedok wrote:

Hi

The email address ksithole@wrda.co.za does not work, please check the address and let me know.

Click to expand...

I just contacted him and he says that thay are having probs with the E-mails and asked if you didnt come right with the E-mail address that you would please fax it . Hopefully they sort it out soon:fbash

Would be great if the venue could be put under Sacs management...

Email sent!!!Thanks for making an effort to revive Donaldson Fisher-holic im sure this is much appreciated by many of our specimen anglers who holds Donnies close to our hearts.Hopefully our emails are not in vein and something is done soon.....

Rowz wrote:

Email sent!!!Thanks for making an effort to revive Donaldson Fisher-holic im sure this is much appreciated by many of our specimen anglers who holds Donnies close to our hearts.Hopefully our emails are not in vein and something is done soon.....

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Thanks Rows and yes VERY close to my heart. Amazed how evenen managment wants to restore donnies as he literally begged me to complain as much as possible . I really hope something comes from this:fswim

Well so many guys complained about Lourens/Lawrence and how he ran the place, removed fish, double-booked swims etc. You cant blame anglers for "voting" him out, for how the place is now in a mess. Blame the municipality or whoever is SUPPOSED to take care of the place. They are the ones not doing their jobs... I have a suspicion they dont want to make an effort because their "buddies" on the other side wants free reign over the venue!...

If SACS could take over I think it would work out best, but I think a compromise has to be set, where both parties benefit...somehow.

SACS secured a governmental level meeting with the guys from NW province to secure the future of Donaldsons bottom lake, they accepted our proposal!

::S::S::S::S::S::S

Spinedok wrote:

SACS secured a governmental level meeting with the guys from NW province to secure the future of Donaldsons bottom lake, they accepted our proposal!

::S::S::S::S::S::S

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Holy Smoly , seems this thread wasnt a waste of time after all:woohoo

Where is the like button when you need it...

Great job SACS

where do we sign up to assist with the cleanup??

WELL DONE SACS!!!


::S::S::S::S::S::S

Spinedok wrote:

SACS secured a governmental level meeting with the guys from NW province to secure the future of Donaldsons bottom lake, they accepted our proposal!

::S::S::S::S::S::S

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That's awesome news for the venue, it's inhabitants and SACS. Well done guys...

As far as those submerged weeds are concerned, we have a very special herbicide from the USA that could be used to clear up swims/fishing areas...
NB! Safe for fish and other micro-organisms...

Alex F will be starting up that side soon and will be able to assist with the application as it needs to be done sub-surface!
If it is one of the plants below, be careful if taken out mechanically/manually, every piece broken off can become a new plant...

As a non-SACS member, Im just concerned about how such a development will influence the public's right to access the dam. I remember certain comments on another thread where that person lamented the unfairness of facilities which are meant for the benefit of the public are closed down by private organizations of bought by people, effectively cutting off the public. Donaldson Dam is a municipal dam, the people have a right to benefit from the resources that the country has. The people from Bekkersdal have livestock which drink water at the dam and feed on the grass. It's their livelihood. The people who want to use the dam for recreational purposes such as angling should have a right to it. If not, you can understand why those people feel they're getting a raw deal.

Can anyone please indicate what the implications will be for people who are not part of this organization if the dam will now be managed by SACS?

It really bugs me that people want venues to fish, and then when it comes to an organization sitting in meetings until 12 at night with these guys from government and putting in the hard work and time, that people will still not join the cause, but they want to benefit from it at the same time?

We did not say that we want the venue to be closed to the public, but we want to at least try and enforce that only specimen carpers are allowed to fish the venue with the right kit, so that will be our goal during the meetings.

Please explain the logic to me, coz I cannot understand the thinking behind it. The local community will be benefiting as there will be a possible 5 new jobs created during the development.

I am not writing this without thinking what I am saying, but sometimes I just would like to understand the thinking behind some comments. 

Democracy is expensive my friend, you have to satisfy all stakeholders. The thinking behind my question is simple, there is no ambiguity or veiled attacks, just simple reasoning, it is thus - The venue is a municipal dam, it does not belong to any private organization which is preventing the general public from benefiting from the recreational facilities it has to offer. Any organization which is interested in managing it, MUST take cogniscane of this reality and refrain from attempting to make the venue an elitist facility from which the people cannot benefit. 5 jobs might benefit 5 households, and those households can still benefit even if the venue is not only open to members.

Are you aware that there needs to be a process of consultation if the venue is to be privatised? Just like there was a need to do so with the e-tolls? If the councillors from Westonaria are going to go ahead and allow SACS to discriminate against people based on membership, without public consultation, they are not following process, and I for one will not stand for it. If they knowingly override the process, I have to wonder what they are getting in return, care to enlighten us?