Mutshedzi Dam

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Mutshedzi Dam
Official name Mutshedzi Dam
Location Limpopo, South Africa
Coordinates 22°56′55″S30°9′40″E / 22.94861°S 30.16111°E / -22.94861; 30.16111 Coordinates: 22°56′55″S30°9′40″E / 22.94861°S 30.16111°E / -22.94861; 30.16111
Opening date 1990
Operator(s) Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam and spillways
Type of dam gravity
Impounds Mutshedzi River
Height 22.5 metres (74 ft)
Length 160 metres (520 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Mutshedzi Dam Reservoir
Total capacity 216,464,000 cubic metres (7.6444×109 cu ft)
Surface area 594 hectares (1,470 acres)

Mutshedzi Dam is a gravity type dam located on the Mutshedzi River, a tributary of the Nzhelele River. It is located 40 km to the west of Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa. It was established in 1990 and serves mainly for irrigation purposes. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked significant (2).

Nzhelele River river in South Africa

The Nzhelele River is a major watercourse in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The river's catchment area comprises 2,436 square kilometers.

Thohoyandou Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Thohoyandou is a town/City in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality. It is also known for being the former capital of the bantustan of Venda. Thohoyandou was built at Tshiluvhi which was under Khosi vho Netshiluvhi. Construction started in 1977 with P East and P West residential area/location as R293 town, a shopping centre and Venda Government buildings. The Netshiluvhis were the first occupants of the area as far back as 1400 AD, i.e. after the collapse of Mapungubwe Kingdom. They were forcefully removed from this area between 1960 and 1970 by the apartheid government of the Venda Bantustan under khosi vho Mphephu Ramabulana. The name Tshiluvhi comes from the Venda word "luvha" which means to pay homages or respect. The former Venda president built his palace and his ministerial resident at Tshiluvhis chiefs kraal as they were already moved by the apartheid government. The following leaders and their subject under Netshiluvhi were forcefully removed from their areas. Some of the Netshiluvhi are known by different names: Malima, Khorommbi, Mathomu, Magidi, and Mudau. The name Tshiluvhi was totally stricken out and replaced by Thohoyandou as per the then government, and was left as a name of a primary school.

Limpopo The northernmost province of South Africa

Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The name "Limpopo" has its etymological origin in the Northern Sotho language word diphororo tša meetse, meaning "strong gushing waterfalls". The capital is Polokwane.

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