The Pienaars River is a river in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. It is a tributary of the
Crocodile River. A short section of this river is known as the Moretele River (i.e. approximately 20 km section between Haakdoornbult and the Klipvoor Dam). Tributaries of the Pienaars River include the Moreletaspruit (alternative spellings: Morelettaspruit, Moreleta Spruit). Note that the above-mentioned Moretele river section is 60 km away from the Moreletaspruit and these two should not be confused with one another.
Course
It originates east of
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foot ...
,
City of Tshwane
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (also known as the City of Tshwane) () is the metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of northern Gauteng Province, South Africa. The Metropolitan area is centred on the city of Pr ...
,
Gauteng
Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...
Province, flowing northwards into
Roodeplaat Dam
Roodeplaat Dam is a concrete arch dam situated in South Africa on the Pienaars River (also known along parts of its length as the Moretele River and Moreleta Spruit),
a tributary of the Crocodile River, which flows northwards into the Limpopo R ...
(north of
Mamelodi
Mamelodi, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township set up by the then apartheid government northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Etymology
"Mamelodi" is the name derived from the Sepedi word with the prefix b ...
), which is also fed by the Hartbeesspruit and its tributary, the Moreletaspruit. The semi-stagnant water here and below the dam wall harbours quantities of
cyanobacteria and its
algal bloom
An algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. It is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from the algae's pigments. The term ''algae'' encompass ...
s. The river continues its northward course through the
Dinokeng Game Reserve
The Dinokeng Game Reserve is a large wildlife sanctuary in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, and can be accessed via the arterial N1 route. It is a 40-minute drive from Pretoria or some 75 minutes from the O. R. Tambo Airport and Johannesb ...
, where it is joined by the Boekenhoutspruit from the east, before passing under the
N1 and turning westward towards
Pienaarsrivier, the eponymous hamlet on its right bank, and Zaagkuilsdrift. North of
Makapanstad
Makapanstad is a village and the seat of the Moretele Local Municipality, falling under Bojanala District Municipality in the North West province of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southern ...
the
Apies River __NOTOC__
The Apies River is a river that flows through the city of Pretoria, South Africa. Its source is located just south of the city (south of Erasmus Park) and it flows northward until it drains into the Pienaars River.
The word "Apies" is A ...
(or rather a short section of the
Tshwane River) joins it from the south, besides the
Plat River (or Utsane) from the east. The Pienaars continues westward and is joined by the Soutpanspruit at Kgomo kgomo before it enters
Klipvoor Dam
Klipvoor Dam is a concrete gravity type dam located on the Moretele River, 55 km north of Brits, North West, South Africa. It was established in 1970. The main purpose of the dam is to serve for irrigation and its hazard potential has been ...
. About 25 km further downstream it joins the
Crocodile River's right bank.
Crocodile/Marico WMA 3
/ref>
Gallery
Pienaarsrivier, algebloei te Buffelsdrift, herfs-2020, g.jpg, Algal bloom
An algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. It is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from the algae's pigments. The term ''algae'' encompass ...
of cyanobacteria in the polluted upper reaches at Buffelsdrift
Boekenhoutspruit, stroomop-uitsig van D48 af, Dinokeng, b.jpg, The Boekenhoutspruit, seen here at Dinokeng, is a right bank tributary
Soutpanspruit by laagwaterbrug, b, Zoutpan.jpg, The Soutpanspruit, seen here at Tswaing, is a left bank tributary
Lesser Moorhen, Kgomo Kgomo, South Africa.jpg, The Kgomo kgomo floodplain attracts seasonal waterbirds
Dams in the Pienaars River
* Waterlake Farm Dam
* Roodeplaat Dam
Roodeplaat Dam is a concrete arch dam situated in South Africa on the Pienaars River (also known along parts of its length as the Moretele River and Moreleta Spruit),
a tributary of the Crocodile River, which flows northwards into the Limpopo R ...
* Klipvoor Dam
Klipvoor Dam is a concrete gravity type dam located on the Moretele River, 55 km north of Brits, North West, South Africa. It was established in 1970. The main purpose of the dam is to serve for irrigation and its hazard potential has been ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Overview of the Crocodile (West)/Marico Water Management Area
Crocodile River (Limpopo)
Rivers of Limpopo
Rivers of Gauteng