South Africa: Orange River at Upington water levels and flood

Orange River water level in 2022 & 2023 - Northern Cape, South Africa.

Mention Upington and the mind conjures up visions of a desolate unbaked southern Kalahari desert town where man's existence is a daily struggle. But how wrong can one be.

Through this harsh landscape that surrounds Upington runs a glittering green ribbon - the fertile Orange River valley which brings life-giving water from the distant highlands of Lesotho to the town.

Location

The town is centrally located on the Namaqua Route between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Namibia. As such road kilometer distances between Upington & the following town are:

Johannesburg 804, Cape town 894, Windhoek 973, Augrabies Falls National Park 120, Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park 268, Kimberley 411, Springbok 374, Buchuberg Dam 120 Groblershoop 121, Keimoes 40, Kakamas 81, Pofadder 206, Kenhardt 130, Rietfontein 219.

POPULATION

Approximately 60 000 people live in Upington.

HISTORY

A Hottentot chieftain Klaas Lucas, realized the value of being able to read and write. He also knew that the missionaries could help his people to acquire these skills, so in 1870 he appealed for the establishment of a mission station at Olyfenhoutsdrift (Ford at the olivewood trees). The Reverend Christiaan was sent up from Cape town. Permission to establish the Olyfenhoudsdrift Mission was secured from Klaas Pofadder who claimed ownership of the area.

Consequently, building work began when foundations were laid in 1873. Pioneer settlers such as Japie Lutz and the Reverend Christiaan were quick to realize the irrigation possibilities along the Orange. They hand dug the first irrigation canals in 1880 and some of them are still in use today. Since then Upington grew rapidly and became the commercial, agricultural and educational center of the Gordonia district. The latter was named after sir Gordon Sprigg, a former prime minister of the Cape Colony.

ATTRACTIONS

The Mighty Kalahari

Discover the unspoilt beauty of this less travelled region. Hunting, hiking and sightseeing are a few of the many activities available to keep you busy.

Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

Game viewing at its best

SA Dried Fruit Co-operative

Situated on the road to Groblershoop. More than ten percent of South Africa's vineyards or 23,5 million vines are cultivated along the lower Orange River. Products are distributed to the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, the Scandinavian Countries and Argentina. The factory covers an area of more than 2 ha and processes and packs all dried sultanas in the country.

Kalahari Oranje Museum

Built by the Reverend Schroder in 1875 as a church and mission station. Domestic items dating from that era and articles relating to the history of Upington and the lower Orange River can be seen here. The museum is home to the life-sized monument of the donkey, sculptured in bronze by Hennie Potgieter.

It symbolizes the unselfish contribution made by the donkey in developing the Lower Orange River Valley during the pioneer days.

Oranje Rivier Co-operative Wine Cellars

Situated in the industrial area. This five cellar co-operative is the second largest in the world. It presents the visitor with a unique range of natural and fortified wines. Wine tasting & tours are offered.

Augrabies Waterfall

Named by the Khoi people, Augrabies, meaning "Place of great Noise". It is truly a spectacular sight to see the Orange River cascading 60m down in a mighty waterfall.

Skaapland Butchery Franchise

International specialists in the meat industry recognise Skaapland Butchery as one of the most modern butcheries in the world and equals German Technological standards. It is the first registered butchery franchise in South Africa and worth a visit !

Spitskop Nature Reserve

Only 13 km from Upington, it offers wonderful game viewing and bird watching.

ECONOMY

Upington's economy relies heavily on agriculture, tourism and the service industry. There is also a lively informal sector present in the town. A number of companies like the Oranje Co-operative, Karakul & Livestock Co-operative (KLK) and Oranje Rivier Co-op Wine cellars have their head offices in Upington.

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South Africa: Recommended Experience - Family Activities in the Western Cape

TOURING CAPE TOWN

Recommended Experience - Family Activities in the Western Cape

These are some of the wonderful tour options for families traveling with children, with a bit more detail on each to help parents choose the best activities for their family:

• Two Oceans Aquarium

To raise awareness of the oceans, the Two Oceans Aquarium is designed to showcase the beauty and diversity of the oceans off Southern Africa.

• Clay Café- City Bowl (Also available in Hout Bay & Paarl)

One of the most loved family experiences - and an amazing menu to go with it.

• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The 36-hectare Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a fun outing for the whole family. Stop by the café for tea and scones (or milkshakes and waffles).

• Clay Pigeon Adventures

Clay Pigeon Adventures is an experience company, where you get to shoot real bullets in a safe, controlled and fun environment.

• Cycling or E-biking Stellenbosch

Choose between a normal bicycle or an e-bike, and join a tour that combines the beautiful scenery and historic sites of Stellenbosch.

• Scootours

South Africa’s first Scootours Flow Trail with berms, and a bush tunnel.

• The Tree House & Outdoor Experience at Boschendal

Free-range fun for children (5 to 14 years), with activities such as foraging, scavenger hunts, spoor tracking, fire-making, survival skills and more.

• Ultimate Putt 

The newest exciting addition to Lourenford’s offering is Ultimate Putt - a brand new 18-hole putt-putt course.

• The Alpaca Loom

On this farm near Paarl, you can walk with alpacas on a halter, feed them, visit the barn where they sleep and tour the weaving studio that produces alpaca wool products on hand looms.

AIRLINES

LATAM Airlines will increase its Johannesburg-São Paulo frequency from three flights a week to five, starting 01 November 2024.

The new flight schedule is as follows:

• LA8059: Departs Johannesburg Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 15h15 arriving São Paulo at 20h00.

• LA8058: Departs São Paulo Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 22:45 arriving Johannesburg 12:25 (the next day)

FlySafair - OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP).

The airline has launched another route to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit, this time from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB).

• The new twice-weekly service starts on 02 August 2024

• The airline launched its Cape Town-Nelspruit service in April.

• As well as serving the local market, the Johannesburg-Nelspruit route will also enable international tourists to reach prime South African tourist destinations more easily, with the Kruger National Park being a firm favourite.

The JNB-MQP flight schedule will be as follows:

Fridays and Sundays

• Depart Johannesburg OR Tambo at 11h15

• Arrive Kruger Mpumalanga at 12h10

• Departs Kruger Mpumalanga at 12h45

• Arrive Johannesburg OR Tambo at 13h40

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South Africa: São Gonҫalo, Jonge Thomas, Arab, Limpopo, Salabangka, Interwaves, Belvedere, Otago, Albany, Tryme & Capensis shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

We report on this day the wrecking anniversaries of 23 vessels. However, it must be emphasized that when the date of wrecking is not known it is often given as the having occurred on either the 1st of January, or if it is known to have occurred around winter, on the 1st of June. As more research is conducted on our Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage, these dates will become more refined. At the moment we have it recorded that six of these 23 vessels wrecked on this day, and the other 17 will require more research to determine their wrecking dates accurately. 

1630: São Gonҫalo, this wooden Portuguese galleon was lost in a south-easterly gale while undergoing repairs in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. The São Gonçalo was a Portuguese merchant vessel which was homeward bound from Goa in India to Lisbon carrying a cargo of pepper, spices, and Chinese porcelain. It was a very large ship, thought to be around 2000 tons, heavy with cargo, when it started leaking badly. The shelter of the Robberg Peninsula provided calmer seas in which to unload some of the cargo and commence repairs to its hull. Roughly 100 crew members including the captain and 5 friars set up a camp on the beach with the remaining 130 men staying on board to carry out the repairs.

In 2017 the MUCH unit conducted a magnetometer survey to look for any signs of the wreck of the São Gonҫalo (1630)

After approximately 7 weeks a large storm hit the bay and the ship was quickly broken up with all men on board perishing. The survivors on the shore set about making the camp more permanent including constructing a wooden church and other smaller workshops and dwellings. The survivors decided to construct 2 smaller sailing vessels from the wreckage that had washed ashore. One of these would sail back to India, and the other would head for home. After approximately 8 months the survivors set off on their journeys, the ship heading for India made it to Mozambique where they waited for a Portuguese vessel to pick them up. The ship sailing for Portugal was picked up by another vessel, the Santo Ignacio de Loyola, which a year later made it back to Lisbon ironically to be wrecked within sight of the port. The fates of the various São Gonçalo survivors is unclear as there are contradicting reports regarding what happened to those on board. 

In 1979 the Jerling family were clearing a plot of land for development next to the peninsula at the southern end of Robberg beach when they started to notice large amounts of porcelain turning up in the soil. They collected what they could and reported the finds to the authorities. The artefacts consisted of Chinese porcelain, beads, flint flakes, musket balls, mother of pearl spoons, a religious medal, a coin, metal fittings and incense sticks. Subsequent excavations, surveys and analysis of the finds led to the conclusion that the survivor’s camp was Portuguese in origin and evidence pointed to it being that of the São Gonçalo.

In 2017 SAHRA’s MUCH team took part in a joint initiative with the African Centre for Heritage Activities and the Plettenberg Bay Ski Boat Club to try and locate the remains of the wreck. A magnetometer survey was conducted on a large area around the Robberg Peninsula and closer to the beach to see if any magnetic anomalies, that might indicate a shipwreck, could be detected. Unfortunately, the survey did not pick up anything of significance, but further work may yet still uncover something of significance. 

1773: Jonge Thomas, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked after its cables parted in north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape. This wreck is famous for the bravery of a local farmer, Wolraad Woltemade, who astride his horse Vonk, repeatedly entered the sea to reach the wreck of the ship and bring back as many men as his horse could carry. On the 7th visit to the wreck, too many panicked men tried to grab onto the horse and rider, dragging them under the waves, and they drowned. In total Woltemade saved 14 lives and his bravery, and that of his horse, has been commemorated numerous times including a statue dedicated to them in a cemetery in Cape Town. As for the 191 that were on board, 53 survived, 14 of which were saved by Woltemade.

"Death of Woltemade at the Cape of Good Hope, 1773" by Nicolaas van Frankendaal in 1775

1850: Arab, this wooden British barque sprang a leak and foundered after its cables parted in a north-westerly storm in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1916: Limpopo, this coaster was abandoned at sea after its engine room flooded, off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The vessel was never seen again and is presumed to have foundered. 

1943: Salabangka, this steam-powered Dutch freighter was sunk after damage sustained by a torpedo from U-178 off the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. The explosion from the torpedo killed 10 men and destroyed some of the lifeboats. The remaining 75 crew members were picked up and landed in Durban. Attempts were made to tow the Salabangka back to port, but a further explosion occurred and it sank, just south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The wreck can be dived on, but it lies at a depth of 60m and is recommended for experienced tech divers only. 

1984: Interwaves, this South African transport boat foundered near Hout Bay in the Western Cape after its engine failed.

The MS Interwaves (1984) in its final moments

Comments:

Pete Bower

To describe the Interwaves as a "transport boat" is a bit of a stretch. At the time of her sinking she had been modified into a party boat (aka pleasure cruiser). For whatever reason, l think related to permits and licenses, the venture never got off the ground and she remained tied up alongside for a year or so, idle. With all the attendant ongoing costs accumulating monthly. Some believed that her engine failure and sinking were therefore, shall we say, not unexpected.

Constantia Berg wreck in Hout Bay

2002: An Airquaris Aviation Hawker Siddeley 748 (registration no. ZS-OJU), crashed into the Outeniquea mountains near George after missing its first approach due to bad weather, killing the two pilots and the one passenger that was on board. This event is well known as the passenger that lost his life was Hansie Cronje.

The ZS-OJU crash site

The following vessels require more research, but we know that they wrecked around this time: 

1552: São Jeronimo, this wooden Portuguese East Indiaman wrecked north of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal with no survivors. It was sailing in the company of the São João before they became separated.

1611: Yeanger van Horne, this wooden Flemish sailing vessel wrecked either on Robben Island or possibly on a beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape.  

1862: Asia, this British sailing vessel foundered off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape.

1867: Belvedere, this sailing barque was lost near Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1867: Otago, this sailing barque ran aground and wrecked somewhere in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1868: Anna Maria, this wooden sailing cutter was lost in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1869: Western Province, this sailing schooner was lost near Port Beaufort in the Western Cape. 

1875: Albany, this tug boat was lost near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

1899: Waikato, this vessel foundered off Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

1959: Tryme, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel ran aground and wrecked somewhere on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape.

1959: Rebecca, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel wrecked on Robben Island in the Western Cape.

1960: Capensis, this motor-powered trawler was scuttled by gunfire in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. 

1962: Adelaar, this South African coaster was scuttled near Robben Island in the Western Cape. 

1968: Gussy, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel wrecked after its hull was damaged near Hout Bay in the Western Cape. 

1968: Jasmien, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel capsized and foundered near the Breede River mouth in the Western Cape. 

1974: Dora K, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel ran aground and wrecked in Struisbaai in the Western Cape. 

1977: Adore, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered in heavy weather near Kommetjie in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Schollevaar, North Wester, Osprey, Isle of Wight, Clansman, Namaqua II,Ashbank, Zwartberg, Duineveld & Harvest Hercules shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 31:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1668: Schollevaar, this wooden Dutch hoeker was run ashore where it wrecked by a drunken skipper in a north-westerly gale near Yzerfontein in the Western Cape. Two people drowned during the wrecking.

1839: North Wester, this wooden South African sailing vessel wrecked near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1867: Osprey, this wooden British gunboat foundered during a westerly storm off Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. It was lost about 16 km west of the seal point lighthouse.

An illustration of the HMS Osprey (1867) and HMS Opposum engaging in a battle with pirates in Thailand

Comments:

Mike Klee

The "Osprey" did not founder. When a ship "founders", it basically sinks out in the open ocean due to the ingress of seawater. The "Osprey", however, was wrecked on the coast in shallow water, close to Cape St Francis. Her remains can still be seen in very shallow water.

Secondly and as far as I am aware, the "Osprey" was engaged in fighting pirates close to Hong Kong - NOT Thailand. In the wreckage of the "Osprey", a bronze cannon captured from these pirates in this fighting bore the Tudor rose. This cannon was salvaged in the 1970's and at one time "stood guard" in front of a beach house at Cape St Francis.

1870: Isle of Wight, this vessel sprang a leak and foundered off the Transkei coast in the Eastern Cape.

1882: Clansman, this wooden British brigantine was lost when its cables parted during a south-easterly gale near East London in the Eastern Cape.

1889: Namaqua II, this British/South African steam-powered coaster struck a submerged object and was beached near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. Reports vary, but it was either wrecked or repaired and sold off.

1892: Ashbank, this 4-masted steel British barque left Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape for Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia but was never seen or heard from again.

1955: Zwartberg, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered at its moorings in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

1956: Duineveld, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel wrecked near Chapman’s Peak off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it.

1978: A cement barge, only known as “Barge 3”, foundered at the quarry in False Bay in the Western Cape.

1982: Harvest Hercules, a fire broke out on this South African fishing vessel in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It scuttled thereafter.

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South Africa: Ganges, Arniston, Stella, Clan McGregor & Ryvingen shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 30:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1807: Ganges, this British East Indiaman foundered south of Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape. It was off the Cape of Good Hope on the 29th when it sprang a leak. Luckily, the Earl St Vincent was in convoy and managed to get all that were on board off. By noon the next day, on the 30th, it sank south of Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

1815: Arniston, this British East Indiaman wrecked on the rocks near the eponymous town of Arniston in the Western Cape. It was on its way to Ceylon to repatriate wounded British soldiers when it became separated on the 26th from its convoy whilst rounding the Cape in bad weather.

The replica monument at the top of the dunes near the wreck of the Arniston (1815)

The weather damaged its sails and, as it was never fitted with a chronometer, they relied on the convoy for navigation. On the 30th, due to a navigational error, believing that they had just crossed the Cape and been blown offshore, they headed North for what they thought would be St Helena Bay. However, it was further west than the Cape and was driven onto a reef near the town of Waenhuiskrans by onshore winds.

The wooden ribs that washed up near the town of Arniston/Waenhuiskrans that are believed to have belonged to the wreck of the Arniston (1815)

Of the 378 people that were on board, including 14 women and 25 children, only six men survived. Waenhuiskrans has since been renamed to Arniston, as the town had become synonymous with the wrecking. The wreck site was discovered and formerly excavated in 1982 by the University of Cape Town’s Archaeology Department guided by Jim Jobling, with many of the finds being housed at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum.

Artefacts of the Arniston (1815) on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum

It is currently understood that this survey and excavation was the first formal attempt at introducing the field of Maritime Archaeology into South Africa. In the late 1990’s, large wooden wreckage had washed up on the shore near Arniston and many believe that these belong to the Arniston. There is a replica monument at the top of the dunes that speaks to the loss of four of the children that were on board.

1872: Stella, this sailing schooner ran aground (and is presumed to have become a wreck) at Port Beaufort in the Breede River in the Western Cape.

1902: Clan McGregor, this British iron steam-powered ship, whilst on its maiden voyage, was lost after running aground near Ryspunt in the Western Cape as a result of bad navigation.

The Clan McGregor (1902) after running aground and people posing for a photo. The provided image shows it wrecked in the back

1902: Ryvingen, this Norwegian iron barque drove its bows into the side of the submerged wreck of the America (1900) during a north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape and became a total loss. Its remains reportedly still lie in the Container Basin of the Cape Town Harbour.

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South Africa: Burnham, Helen, Nossa Senhora da Conceicas, Louisa Dorothea, Seafield, Lucania, Storaas & Perina shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 29:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1840: Burnham, this wooden British schooner wrecked in a north westerly gale off Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1842: Helen, this wooden British barque wrecked at Mouille Point at 22:00 while attempting to enter Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1869: Nossa Senhora da Conceicas, this Portuguese East Indiaman was lost somewhere between Durban and Delagoa Bay off the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

1882: Louisa Dorothea, this German sailing schooner was lost during a gale in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.

1882: Seafield, this wooden British barque collided with the Roxburgh Castle after its anchor cable broke in East London in the Eastern Cape. Its crew was transported to the Roxburgh Castle and the barque drifted onto Nahoon Point, near Bats Cave, where it was smashed to pieces.

1893: Lucania, this three-masted wooden British brig was beached, after a fire broke out on board, in False Bay in the Western Cape.

1943: U-177, whilst on patrol off Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape attacked convoy CD-20, sinking two ships. On the 28th, just before midnight it fired upon the convoy, striking the Agwimonte, an American steam-powered merchant ship, and the Storaas, a Norwegian steam-powered tanker. In the early hours of the 29th, each ship was sunk by a coup de grâce.

The Storaas (1943), date and location unknown

All those that were on board the Agwimonte survived, but three of the crew of the Storaas lost their lives as they were trapped below deck. The HMSAS Vereeniging picked up most of the survivors except for those that were on board two of the Agwimonte’s boats, which were picked up later by a crash boat after being spotted by an aircraft.

The Agwimonte (1943), date and location unknown

1978: Perina, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel (lobster trawler) foundered off Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: De African, Amatola, Shepherdess, Christina, America, Tordenskjold & Katsuei Maru 58 shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 28:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1821: De African, this wooden Dutch sailing vessel was put into Table Bay in the Western Cape on the 8th of May as a result of having sprung a leak. On this day, the 28th, it was broken up and sold off.

1852: Amatola, this iron sailing schooner wrecked whilst trying to enter the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape. It was the first official casualty of the Buffalo River.

1859: Shepherdess, this wooden British barque sprang a leak and wrecked on Thunderbolt reef near Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape. Twelve people were lost during the wrecking.

1882: Christina, this wooden British/South African coasting schooner wrecked on Central beach in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. It struck a blinder, resulting in the loss of its rudder and holing its starboard bilge. It was run aground on Central beach where it was left high and dry and was later condemned.

1900: America, this steam-powered British barquentine was abandoned on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape, after a fire had broken out in the fore hold. Attempts to refloat it continued into August, but these were unsuccessful.

1930: Tordenskjold, this steam-powered British/South African whaler was scuttled just outside of Durban Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. It had foundered 15 years earlier but was refloated.

1984: Katsuei Maru 58, this motor-powered Japanese fishing vessel ran aground and wrecked near Quoin Point in the Western Cape.

The image shows how quickly wrecks on the rocks can be broken up as it was captured in 1995, only 11 years after the Katseui Maru 58 (1984) wrecked

2022: A Beechcraft B200 King Air (registration no. ZS-PTE) failed to take off from a small 1 km long runway at the Lynedoch Private Airfield in the Western Cape, crashing into a duiker and a tree after skidding off the runway. The pilot attempted to takeoff twice, but reported that the uneven surface caused the aircraft to bounce resulting in both of these attempts being unsuccessful.

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South Africa: Het Huys te Craijestein, Nagel, Gambia, Hollandia & Louise shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 27:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1698: Het Huys te Craijestein, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked in thick fog off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Remains of this vessel can still be seen on the seabed amongst the rocks near Oudekraal on the Cape peninsula.

One of the anchor’s of Het Huys te Craijestein (1698) that is still visible on site

1709: Nagel, this wooden Dutch galiot wrecked after a fire burned it down to the waterline in Kraalbaai, in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It was used to transport goods around the Cape Colony and was being used as a fishing vessel when it was lost.

1871: Gambia, this three-masted British steam-powered ship wrecked at the then North Jetty in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Its propellors were fouled by a snapped towing cable which was being used to tow the Maritana, which had been abandoned in a leaking condition. The wreck lay there for 22 years before it was demolished with explosives.

1890: Hollandia, this Dutch barque wrecked in False Bay in the Western Cape and four lives were lost because of the wrecking.

The Gambia (1871) after having run aground with its fouled propellor

1891: Louise, this Norwegian wooden sailing barque wrecked on the bar while being towed into the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape during heavy seas.

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South Africa: Lord Hawkesbury, Adventurer, Grahamstown, Elaine, Emma, Jane Davie, Martha, Quanza, Carlos de Eizaguirre & Nagos shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 26:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1796: Lord Hawkesbury, this wooden British whaler was run aground to become a wreck at Soetendalsvlei, presumably near the mouth of Heuningsnes river in Struisbaai/Struis Bay in the Western Cape. It was taken off the coast of Brazil as a prize ship by the French. Amongst the fourteen French men that they put on board, they left three English sailors to sail the vessel to Mauritius, but one of these sailors managed to run it aground when the French officer was not paying attention.

1843: Adventurer, this wooden British cutter foundered in Sandown Bay near Kleinmond in the Western Cape.

1864: Grahamstown, this wooden British barque wrecked in Table Bay on Woodstock beach in the Western Cape. A fire broke out in the hold on the 19th of May and with the holds closed, the crew managed to make it to Table Bay, where it eventually burned down to the waterline. Another source suggests that it instead slipped its cables and wrecked.

1872: A south-easterly gale led to the wrecking of eight vessels in East London in the Eastern Cape and a total loss of three lives. It is recorded that evert single ship that was anchored in East London had been driven ashore, but some were fortunate enough to be refloated.

• Elaine, a British iron brig was smashed to pieces on the breakwater.

• Emma, an American wooden brig became a wreck on the beach.

• Jane Davie, a British iron schooner was driven onto a reef near Bonza Bay. The stricken vessel was only spotted the next morning, and it was only on the 29th that a coasting steamship, the Bismarck arrived and could render assistance as the gale was still raging. Eighteen men and the captain’s wife and son were rescued after spending 3 days lashed to the rigging. Five sailors attempted to use cork buoys to reach the shore, and one of them drowned.

• Martha, a sailing brig that became a wreck on the beach.

• Quanza, a British four-masted steam-powered ship struck the rocks just east of Orient beach and wrecked. Much of the area, such as streets and bathing pools, were named after the wreck.  

• Queen of May, a British wooden barque was smashed to pieces on the rocks. A young boy lost his life. 

• Refuge, a British wooden barque that became a wreck on the beach.

• Sharp, a British wooden brig was driven onto the rocks. One man was killed by a falling block.

1917: Carlos de Eizaguirre, this Spanish steel steam-powered mail ship foundered off Robben Island in the Western Cape. During rough seas at just after 3 am, an explosion occurred, and everyone began to abandon ship. It sunk within five minutes.

The Carlos de Eizaguirre (1917), date and location unknown

Of the 107 crew and 50 passengers on board, only one lifeboat with 23 people on board was launched. The lifeboat was picked up by a tug near Robben Island, and the only other survivor, the chief engineer had managed to find a piece of floating wood after two hours of swimming. He was finally picked up a day and a half later by the coaster Langebaan. As it was never insured for war-time losses, secrecy meant that it was never reported that an explosion occurred but rather that the loss was due to heavy seas. However, it is believed today that it had struck a mine laid by the German commerce raider SMS Wolf. 

1918: Eros, this two-masted British steam-powered ship foundered somewhere near Lambert’s Bay in the Western Cape. All 14 of its crew were lost. 

1971: The Devil’s Peak Tragedy: Three SAAF Hawker Siddeley HS-125 jets were flying in a tight V-formation over the Cape Peninsula and the general Cape Town area in preparation for a Republic Day event, when they all crashed into the slopes of Devil’s Peak on Table Mountain as it was shrouded in fog.

The wreckage that was found after the Devil's Peak Tragedy above the Rhodes Memorial

All 11 crew members that were on board the three airplanes lost their lives.

An image captured by the SAAF of the Nagos (1993) in trouble in the heavy seas off the Eastern Cape coastline shortly before it foundered

1993: Nagos, this motor-powered Greek bulk carrier foundered and sank in heavy weather about 110 km South of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Of the 33 that were on board, only 16 survived.

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Namibia: Neckartal Dam near Keetmanshoop

The Neckartal Dam is the largest dam in Namibia, covering a surface area of about 25 km2. The dam, located 40 kilometers northwest of Keetmanshoop, is a crucial resource for supporting future agri-tourism projects in the region.

The Neckartal Dam, nicknamed the Desert Dragon, is a dam located in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia. It is a curved gravity dam on the Fish River near Berseba, 40 kilometres north-west of the regional capital Keetmanshoop. Construction started in 2013 and was initially expected to finish in 2017. Since its completion in 2018, it is the largest dam in Namibia, more than three times the capacity of the Hardap Dam upstream. The dam's purpose is to support a 5,000 hectares irrigation scheme nearby.

Construction

The idea to construct a dam near Keetmanshoop already came up during the era of German colonialisation. Upon Namibian independence in 1990, the planning slowly came into motion. Although hailed as a promising job creation project, particularly after commission due to the purpose as an irrigation dam, there were doubts over the necessity to build it. Naute Dam in the same area, likewise an irrigation dam, is under-utilised. However, for an irrigation scheme of 5,000 hectares as envisaged for the Neckartal Dam, Naute Dam was deemed too small.

Italian company Salini Impregilo was awarded the 2.8 billion Namibian dollar tender to build the dam in March 2012. After a legal challenge by one competitor, the tender was withdrawn but re-awarded to the same company in August 2013. Construction started within a month. Originally planned to take 3 years, the project has been delayed by a court case and labour unrest. Its completion occurred in October 2018, after which the filling-up phase was expected to last another two years. The dam overflowed for the first time on 19 January 2021 after an exceptionally good rainy season.

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