Crocodile Warning at Olifantsnek Dam

When Curiosity Turns into Community Action

Rustenburg — When unverified videos of crocodiles in Olifantsnek Dam began circulating two weeks ago, most people dismissed them as gossip. But for Thomas de Wet, a local environmental enthusiast and insurance broker from De Wet De Villiers Brokers, it was worth finding out the truth.

“I’m at the dam often,” says Thomas. “I keep an eye out for illegal nets — not as part of any organisation, just because I care about the place. When those crocodile videos appeared, I thought, let’s rather get the facts before rumours start swimming around or growing tails.”

The Operation
Within days, Thomas helped assemble a multi-stakeholder task team including the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Olifantsnek Yacht Club, the Rustenburg Angling Club, and surrounding farmers.

A cage trap was installed under the guidance of DEDECT damage causing animal official Vasti Botha and student Chané Oberholzer, with local farmer Shanneth Wenhold assisting in collecting the cage. Thomas Wenhold from Duco generously supplied the bait.

“We wanted to act quickly, but safely,” explains Vasti Botha. “The aim was never to harm the animals — only to confirm their presence and move them to a secure environment. We also set a cage to check if there were any bigger crocodiles. For now, we’re monitoring, but the situation is under control.”

To add scientific expertise, specialists Xander Combrink and Fortunate Davhana from the Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Nature Conservation joined the team, bringing valuable experience in crocodile behaviour and capture techniques.

When the first night yielded no crocodiles — only a giant barbel (catfish) in the cage — the group adjusted their strategy. The following night they launched boats for a spotlight search around the entire dam.

Loutjie Louwies, well-known Protea angler and owner of Signature Series Fishing Products, offered his boat for the night-time operation, while John Fourie, Morné Graham, and Thomas Schlotfeldt from the Olifantsnek Yacht Club joined in with another craft and hours of patient scanning.

By midnight, teamwork paid off: three young crocodiles, each roughly half a metre long, were safely netted, secured, and transported to the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, where they now live freely in their natural habitat — far from human danger.

“After covering the whole dam, we didn’t see any others,” Thomas says. “We’ll repeat the search again soon, just to be sure, but it looks like the population is small and contained.”

Living with Nature — Not Against It
For Thomas, the lesson is simple. “People shouldn’t be afraid — just aware. It’s completely natural for crocodiles to appear in dams. Floods and rivers connect everything. They’re part of nature’s design.”

He added with caution: “If you see something, please don’t try to catch or harm it yourself. Call DEDECT or dam management. We can protect both people and the animals.”

Crocodiles are powerful predators that deserve our respect. Earlier this year, seven-year-old Johandré Blom tragically lost his arm in a crocodile attack at Roodekoppies Dam during a family outing — a heartbreaking reminder of the strength and unpredictability of these reptiles.

Across South Africa, around three to five crocodile attacks are reported each year, usually when people swim, wade, or clean fish near the water’s edge. Simple awareness saves lives.

Enjoy the Dam — Safely
Olifantsnek Dam remains one of Rustenburg’s most beloved recreational spots. Anglers can keep enjoying the water — just with added awareness:

• Don’t wade or swim in the dam (to wade means walking in shallow water).
• Supervise children and pets.
• Avoid dusk and dawn, when crocodiles are most active.
• Never feed or approach wildlife.
• Report any sightings to DEDECT or local authorities.

“Fishing at Olifantsnek is still fantastic,” says Thomas. “Let’s just enjoy it safely and look after the place we all love.”

Community Pride
Special thanks go to DEDECT official Vasti Botha, student Chané Oberholzer, farmers Shanneth and Thomas Wenhold (who helped with the trap and bait), TUT specialists Xander Combrink and Fortunate Davhana, and Loutjie Louwies, John Fourie, Morné Graham, and Thomas Schlotfeldt from the Olifantsnek Yacht Club for their invaluable support.

Together, these passionate locals proved that when a community acts with care, even a crocodile story can become one of cooperation, conservation, and shared pride.

Main photo: Local environmentalist and insurance broker Thomas de Wet, whose quick action and community spirit sparked the investigation that united Olifantsnek residents.