ATTEMPT TO SAVE DONALDSON DAM!!

Your comments allude to you feeling unappreciated in your efforts to make a difference at the venue. Let me assure you that I am not in favour of the place deteriorating the way it is. However cleaning up the place and instituting proper management does not have to mean that certain people will benefit from those efforts and others disadvantaged, in light of the fact that this is a public dam. I find it to be selfish for people to want to fix something but denying others their right of benefiting from it, simply based on the fact that YOU DO NOT OWN THE DAM, IT IS PUBLIC LAND. Clean the place up, do whatever you need to so that fishing and camping will be enhanced, but don't try to prevent other people from also using the venue, you have no right. You can always institure certain rules of conduct, which will not be based on discriminatory thinking based on race, membership, angling discipline, choice of car, political affiliation or what I had for breakfast.

You cannot sugarcoat a turd, what's wrong is wrong.
 

Spinedok

Member
The full management and development has officially been handed over to a development agency, who has full rights to the land, they will be in the meeting with us, and we are approaching this with an ethical approach showing the government the difference between guys camping and doing a bit of fishing, and guys who are there to fish and make sure the venue stays clean and free of alcohol abusing groups there to trouble the serious angler, who in any case brings in more money than the previously mentioned groups, who costs a venue money most of the time, due to a lack of respect of their neighbours and property.

We are sure after all the mails received and feedback from a whole lot of forums that 99% of the guys are in agreement that specimen rules should be enforced at the venue for any angler wishing to fish the venue.

This will ensure a cleaner and better environment for the fish to recover and for a dam that can be kept free of line pollution, as the guys will take the correct care in fishing with the correct tackle and retrieving lines with boats if they get snagged. If we want to get to an international standard, then we need to start making the steps in the right direction to get to the desired result at our angling waters. 
 

Alien Invader

New member
Spinedok wrote:
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. 

Hmmm, What amazes me is the fact that some people thing because it's a municipal or government dam/waters they automatically have the right to use or have access to it.
Truth be told, public access can be denied at the drop of a hat, no consultations necessary! Stake holders?? Pffft!
Because of mismanagement in the past, limited funds to cater for fisherman and the upkeep of this venue, the only option was to get someone involved to assist in running this venue correctly...
Say what you want BUT! It's the general public that usually come into a venue like this and stuff it up, by limiting access you limit damage done... A right of admission policy is always in place anyway (Gov or private) this time the right to enter is being a bit more selective to limit access and the damaging impact on the venue and it's inhabitants...
The general public stuffed it up and the general public will pay the price... It's always the same, okes bitch about dirty toilets but their own kids dont lift the seats, they complain about rubbish left lying around but donr clean up after themselves,, Bla bla bla...
It's time for all to catch a wake up, this is the only future that Carp fishing has, selective well managed venues.
Good on you SACS/Franscois, keep up the good work!
Grab more decent venues before they get shut down for all!

You are doing a good job, let the odd negative comments run off like water on a ducks back. keep focused and do what youre doing....
I wish more dams/waters had decent management in place to keep the "riff raff" out!!!

I have said it before, I'll say it again, you need someone like the SACS to fight for you. The minute you let some uninformed idiot represent you in a meeting regarding Carp management, the future of Carp venues are doomed...

I suggest you make an effort to support those who support you and stop complaining. This is a good thing.
 

carpyman

New member
Alien Invader wrote:
Spinedok wrote:
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. 

Hmmm, What amazes me is the fact that some people thing because it's a municipal or government dam/waters they automatically have the right to use or have access to it.
Truth be told, public access can be denied at the drop of a hat, no consultations necessary! Stake holders?? Pffft!
Because of mismanagement in the past, limited funds to cater for fisherman and the upkeep of this venue, the only option was to get someone involved to assist in running this venue correctly...
Say what you want BUT! It's the general public that usually come into a venue like this and stuff it up, by limiting access you limit damage done... A right of admission policy is always in place anyway (Gov or private) this time the right to enter is being a bit more selective to limit access and the damaging impact on the venue and it's inhabitants...
The general public stuffed it up and the general public will pay the price... It's always the same, okes ***** about dirty toilets but their own kids dont lift the seats, they complain about rubbish left lying around but donr clean up after themselves,, Bla bla bla...
It's time for all to catch a wake up, this is the only future that Carp fishing has, selective well managed venues.
Good on you SACS/Franscois, keep up the good work!
Grab more decent venues before they get shut down for all!

You are doing a good job, let the odd negative comments run off like water on a ducks back. keep focused and do what youre doing....
I wish more dams/waters had decent management in place to keep the "riff raff" out!!!

I have said it before, I'll say it again, you need someone like the SACS to fight for you. The minute you let some uninformed idiot represent you in a meeting regarding Carp management, the future of Carp venues are doomed...

I suggest you make an effort to support those who support you and stop complaining. This is a good thing.
((goodp_:clap12::H
 

Boss Wit NOS

Sealiner
Spinedok wrote:
The full management and development has officially been handed over to a development agency, who has full rights to the land, they will be in the meeting with us, and we are approaching this with an ethical approach showing the government the difference between guys camping and doing a bit of fishing, and guys who are there to fish and make sure the venue stays clean and free of alcohol abusing groups there to trouble the serious angler, who in any case brings in more money than the previously mentioned groups, who costs a venue money most of the time, due to a lack of respect of their neighbours and property.

We are sure after all the mails received and feedback from a whole lot of forums that 99% of the guys are in agreement that specimen rules should be enforced at the venue for any angler wishing to fish the venue.

This will ensure a cleaner and better environment for the fish to recover and for a dam that can be kept free of line pollution, as the guys will take the correct care in fishing with the correct tackle and retrieving lines with boats if they get snagged. If we want to get to an international standard, then we need to start making the steps in the right direction to get to the desired result at our angling waters. 
:woohoo:woohoo::respekt:
 

k20mad

New member
This is the best news for a long time people complaining is blind to the fact that the dam has been stuffed up for a long time now.I will also personally assist with a clean up and am sure there is a lot of other anglers that will help.I believe with SACS taking control of a major dam like Donaldson their member ship Will grow very rapidly as a result of the dam being in range to many of us.

As per the negative post earlier what gave the government officials the right to put TL on a lease to certain individuals.
 

Spinedok

Member
To keep you all informed.

 

Dear Mr Pretorius

 Thank you for the communiqué sent to our CEO, Mr Sipho Mhlongo voicing your concerns regarding the upkeep of the Donaldson Dam Bottom Lake.  The CEO would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience to engage further with you on the matter.  Since you indicated that you live in Alberton, the CEO suggested that you could either have a breakfast business meeting or late afternoon business meeting at The Dross.  If Friday, 19th April 2013 suits you please  indicate your preferred times.

 I will await your response.

 Warm regards

 Desiree Matiwane

Personal Assistant to CEO
 

Wessel109

New member
GO Francois GO Francois!!!!!!!!!!!

Ek dink ek praat vir alle SACS lede as ek se ons is trots op die bestuur van SACS en die harde werk wat julle insit vir ons die lede. Dankie manne.
 

Will i am 75

New member
Well done sacs

 

I am not a sacs member but fished Donaldsondam alot over the last 2 yaers. I would like to know a few things about sacs.

  1. If you become a level 1 member - can you fish at all the sacs manage waters?[/*]
  2. Would you have to be a member to fish DD.
[/*]
If and when SACS that over managemt of DD I would like to help with the cleanup operation as I stay in Westonaria.
 
I suspect the guy at top lake pays to have the venue privatised, provided it does not cover the entire area, money talks.

I am against privatising venues where only people who belong to a certain club are allowed to fish, it is elitist and the practice stinks! Rules & regulations can be instituted to ensure the place is well kept and unsavoury elements do not infringe on the intended plan to afford anglers a safe, clean, fishable venue. I find that in life you cannot simply overlook the grey areas, it will always catch up with you in the end. Ignoring my concerns and dismissing it as a load of negative hogwash may well do well to ease your conscience now, because of your propensity towards self-preservation, but bear in mind that self-serving ideologies always lead to entropy in any environment where there are multiple stakeholders.

I shall need to investigate the statement made by AI that public consultation is not necessary. I have been led to believe that the people in the surrounding area in fact have a say in decisions made, especially if it impacts their lives, and in this case, some people's livelihoods.

But besides them, the angling community, and I suspect some of the specimen anglers on here, who care not for joining SACS might feel like they're getting a raw deal, but, I stand to be corrected. The elitist, and from what I've heard, unfair practices at top lake with regard to membership is scorned by many of these protesters, so I dont understand why they're keeping silent on this matter, perhaps they're thinking of getting their SACS membership card? It would be interesting to know how the selection process at top lake works, where some people are made to wait for extended periods of time, while others get membership within a couple of months, I guess some animals are more equal than others? Who is to say that here the same practices will not transpire? Preferential treatment is always a possibility when people have selfish interests, that cookie jar is many times too irresistable for even the most stand-up guy, and Im not talking about comedians, and here we condemn corruption and kickbacks in government.

The ANC also affords people benefits if they get their membership card, you get all kinds of favours if you produce it. Then there are some who get favoured even more, because of their factional alignment and friends. They dont care because they're benefiting from it; am I to believe that the guy at top lake who favours some people is fundamentally different, or even the hypocrites who accept what is going on as long as they can fish the venue? Take a look at the guy staring back at you in the mirror, and ask yourself why the world is such a messed up place.

Let's see if Westonaria's local municipality has any scruples when they consider the public's interest, or not. I am going to be doing a little homework around this, no public consultation needed you say, I suppose you're all for the Gauteng e-tolls kind sir who will now proceed in writing a very long drawn out epilogue to stroke his own ego.
 

kleinkoppi

Senior Member
@Steel, why are you so against DD being taken over by SACS, they are doing a great job according to me and 90% of the other people on this thread...

Seems like you want this thing to fail if I understand correct...

I'm not trying to take you on or anything, but you are the only negative guy on this thread...
 
Touchè, I am the only negatron here. I will get off my soapbox if I know that people will not be forced to join SACS if they want to fish the venue, is that really so unreasonable? Preferential treatment for some people is also a concern, is there anybody who can gaurantee it will not happen?
 

chris_leon

New member
@klein

what steelpulse has said is TRUE and does command some thought...

I am not a SACS member and as previously mentioned because none of the venues are 20kms or less from my house like most municipal lakes i fish its not my cuppa tea. That said, a few weeks ago i decided it wont hurt ME and MY BUDGET to "give away" R100 a month or whatever it is to the end cause - The South African Carp Society..... I dont plan to fish any of the venues and only will should the gf seriously pressurize me into spending more time with her... IE the venues are really great, Ablution and Safetywise.....

The point Steel is trying to get across is yes, WE as Specimen Carp anglers would love for only our faction of angling to reign supreme - however, this question begs an answer...?

If you dont take your angling seriously (week in and week out - Specimen Anglers) and you are just keen to take your boys and wife for a bit of good fishing for carp, at a "safe venue" , clean venue, with good fish - now then the average Joe who is not a member of SACS and has no interest in joining SACS would not be able to enjoy what once was a public dam. He has been coming for 30 years prior with his dad and now his children.... and now - he isnt allowed to fish because he isnt a member of SACS....

@ Frans - in your thoughts and plans - would the normal once or twice a year angler still be allowed to enjoy Donaldson Dam - or will it only be purely SACS members?

Point being - i love the entire Donaldson Complex and to date i have not joined SACS - would I, also not be "allowed" to fish Donaldson Bottom lake?
 

carpyman

New member
@kleinkoppi-i agree 100%!this is a good thing!like AI says a lot of times!SACS can help the specimen anglers and what they believe and fight for!why the negativity then?
 
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