Eastern Cape Open - Clay Target Shooting - Graaf Reinett

Gariep Dam On the Orange River

We have a nice little trip arranged to coincide with Richards Universal shoot down in Graaff- Reinett.

This morning we were on the road at 6.00 am. Everything was packed and organized last night so here we come Graaff Reinett.

Our first stop along the N1 route was Gariep Dam.

The Gariep Dam was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first prime minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Verwoerd on its commission in 1971. However, after the end of apartheid, the Verwoerd name was considered unsuitable. The name was officially changed to Gariep Dam on 4 October 1996. Gariep is San for "Great water", the original name of the river.

Gariep Dam Wall

The wall is 88 m high and has a crest South African English, 'dam' refers both to the structure and the lake it impounds. Gariep Dam has a total storage capacity of approximately 5,340,000 megalitres (5,340 hm³) and a surface area of more than 370 square kilometres (140 sq mi) when full. The hydro-electrical power station houses four 90 MW generators, giving a maximum output of 360 MW of electricity at a water flow rate of 800 m³/s.

Norval Pont Concentration Camp Cemetery

length of 914 m and contains approximately 1.73 million m³ of concrete. The Gariep Dam is the largest storage reservoir in South Africa. In
The structure is a concrete gravity-arch hybrid dam. This design was chosen as the gorge is too wide for a complete arch so flanking walls form gravity abutments to the central arch.
It was built by Dumez, a French construction company.

The Norval Pont Hotel Built in 1895

Ten kilometers further is is the little town of Norval Pont where we went to the Anglo- Boer War Concentration Camp Cemetery. The concentration  Camp housed 5192 women and children and during that time 494 people died there. The Norval Pont Hotel that was built in 1895 still stands today.

Only His Own Entourage - Shame

Next stop was Graaf-Reinett and as we drove up Caledon Street where we are staying everything was cordoned off and Black BMW's, Merc's and SUV's (AKA The Blue Llight Brigade) blocked our way in. The reason - Zuma was having lunch at a local B & B. I thought I would hang around and catch a glimpse of him and expected crowds to line the streets, but except for his entourage and a few by passers, not a soul out to greet him and not a cheer to be heard.