Qwantani Harbour Rules and Regulations

All signs and notices at the Harbour area must always be adhered to. By launching at Qwantani, you immediately agree to abide by the rules and regulations of these notices and this document.

SAMSA Rules

All boats launching from the harbour and operating on Sterkfontein must have a valid Certificate of Fitness (COF) and be duly registered as either recreational craft or commercial craft if being used as such. All skippers must have a valid SAMSA Certificate of Compliance (COC) or skipper's licence.

These must be produced for inspection to a Qwantani representative when requested. All SAMSA regulations for the operation of watercraft must be adhered to.

Qwantani representatives act under the auspices of the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation (DWS) and South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), and any craft launched at the Qwantani launch site is mandated to comply with all rules and regulations as set out by DWS and SAMSA.

Harbour Rules and Etiquette

• No parking in the launch area.
• No boats are allowed at the units as this causes damage to our lawns. Please make use of designated boat parking. A R200 fine will be imposed for non-adherence.
• Trailers must be parked in the designated trailer park at the harbour and not along the road. They will be moved.
• Please launch and recover as quickly as possible.
• Please do not prepare and pack up on the slipway.
• We suggest that you trailer your craft overnight due to possible extreme weather and since the dam water levels are so high. This also assists with congestion in the harbour. At certain times of the year, there is unfortunately limited space in the harbour.
• Reserving of jetties is not permitted by anyone. No exceptions, except for the resort barges EMMI AND LAZY LADY. Please move to the inside and forward of a jetty to leave space and ease of mooring for others.
• In busy times, please remove your boat from the water if you are not using it.
• Qwantani staff have the right to move boats on jetties when required, should these be hindering other craft or in the case of an emergency such as bad weather.

Pollution & Littering

Sterkfontein remains most likely the cleanest dam in South Africa, and we would like to keep it that way. Absolutely no pollution or littering will be tolerated.

• Make sure your motors are serviceable and are not leaking fuel or oil. Any craft doing so must be immediately removed from the water.
• Please control your litter as strong winds can spring up without warning.
• A fine of R500 will be imposed for littering and a R5,000 fine for pollution of water.

Fishing

There is absolutely NO FISHING permitted in the harbour and beach area in front of the gazebos. A R500 fine will be imposed. There are signs that prohibit this. Not seeing the signs is not an excuse, as they are clearly visible!

You must have a valid fishing permit. Whilst Smallmouth Yellowfish have a bag limit, we do request that ALL yellowfish be released. No Largemouth Yellowfish may be removed from the dam. These remain a Threatened and Protected Species (TOPS) species, and removing them from the dam is a criminal offence. Please apply the necessary etiquette when handling fish.

No fishing of spawning fish or in any of the rivers and streams entering Sterkfontein is permitted. Let us remain ethical in the interests of future generations. This is a criminal offence, and offenders will be reported to the necessary authorities, be liable to possible arrest and a fine, and be banned. Please cooperate with our team regarding these rules and laws.

The team from the Sterkfontein Yellowfish Conservation Project do some fantastic work regarding Yellowfish conservation. Please enquire should you be interested in this initiative. Be friendly to the anti-poaching team also, as they are keeping safe what we so appreciate.

Qwantani is a fun family resort, and there will often be inexperienced users of these craft in the harbour area. Please keep clear and watch your wake.

The harbour is not just for the use of motorised craft.

There is generally no swimming allowed in the harbour. However, from time to time, an area is set aside for protected, safe use by kids swimming and playing. This will be supervised by Qwantani staff.

Please also be aware of other users of the dam, such as skiers and divers, who should abide by the rules regarding the use and placement of the necessary flags and buoys.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is the custodian of South Africa's water resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing this sector, which includes Sterkfontein Dam and its neighbouring Driekloof Dam.

DWS controls the dam and can stop all watercraft use of the dam at any time.

Do not approach any of the dam walls closer than 100 metres. Please note that none of the dam walls in Sterkfontein have marker buoys. Please exercise discretion and, most especially, caution.

Crossing over into Driekloof Dam is not permitted and is strictly prohibited. You will be arrested and charged.

Absolutely NO fishing on any dam wall is permitted. This is a criminal offence and is punishable by law. This includes the main wall on Sterkfontein, the short wall, as well as the Driekloof weir. Dam walls are National Key Points. Qwantani did not make up this rule!

Immediately comply with any request from a DWS official. The officials have been and will be patrolling the dam. Please be respectful to avoid any unwanted consequences.

Qwantani representatives act under the auspices of DWS, and any craft launched at the Qwantani launch site is mandated to comply with all rules and regulations as set out by DWS and SAMSA.

Any call-outs by DWS to request boats and fishermen to leave the above "no-go" areas will be charged a R2,000 fine in addition to any possible prosecution by authorities. It costs time and money to attend to non-compliance. We kindly request your cooperation at all times.

Non-compliance may lead to the withdrawal of use of the harbour and launching facilities, and a launching ban imposed at the discretion of Qwantani management.

Safety & Emergencies

Please be aware that weather conditions can change from flat calm to extremely dangerous within minutes. Please watch the weather closely and do not underestimate the danger.

In the event of an emergency, Qwantani staff will endeavour to assist wherever possible.

A nominal fee will be charged for the recovery of and assistance to boats, depending on severity and distance travelled. Please do not skip paying it, as some have done in the past. It is ungrateful, and when you need us again, we will be unavailable.

Sterkfontein Dam has no dedicated rescue services such as NSRI, etc. We are it, so be nice!