Building the dam 1953/54
Run the cursor over the photos to see a 2nd image
The rains failed in 1952/3 and almost brought the mine to a standstill, the two small dams within Mwadui were almost dry.
It was noted that the small stream running through the Songwa valley never dried up. Gay DU Toit, the Mine Superintendent, was tasked with building the dam at Songwa. The earth moving plant, now standing idle, was put to work creating the dam in July 1953. It would be the largest man-made freshwater lake in Tanganyika.
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Doc was so desperate that he even employed a water diviner who tried to halt the construction while he searched in vain for water.
Danny Malan kept a photographic diary of the Du Toit Dam contruction, some of his photos are reproduced below with kind permission from his descendants.
Left: Gabriel S Du Toit supervised the dam construction. On completion of the dam and building of the sailing club house Gay was voted in as the Honorable Secretary of the Songwa Sailing Club.
The dam was named after the mine Superintendent Gabriel (Gay) Du Toit and completed in February 1954, taking a further two years to fill up. Click here to read more.
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
Click here to see Songwa in Google Maps
Williamson had an eager supply of native labour.
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
Construction the 35 feet (10.7m) high water tower
Twin 12 inch (30cm) pipes ran the three miles to the mine to give a constant flow of water.
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
Blasting the granite rock to line the dam was a huge part of the project.
Constructing the dam
Working thirteen hour days seven days a week.
Photos from the Danny Malan Family ©
Working long hours at a fast pace not all went to plan
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
Following lengthy negotiations with a neighboring mine some five miles from Mwadui Doc was able to lay a pipe at considerable cost to use water from the Alamasi Mine water supply. This allowed the Williamson Mine to tick over at a vastly reduced rate during the drought.
There was also a death from smallpox which necessitated vaccine and medical staff to be flown in and all six thousand mine personnel were vaccinated within a fortnight. No more smallpox deaths were recorded.
The R-15 Euclid dump trucks.
Built in the UK they were available with a choice of five engines – Leyland, AEC, Cummins, Rolls-Royce or GM.
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
The foundation was the bedrock and the dam had a clay interior, to prevent seepage, within the earth dam and reached to a height of 35 feet (10.7m) in the middle.
Building the Songwa Dam
Photos from the Danny Malan family collection ©
Photos from the Danny Malan and Hide family collections ©
The Songwa Sailing Club
The Songwa Sailing Club House
With the completion of the sailing club-house Songwa soon became a favorite getaway for many on the weekends.
Doc created a wildlife sanctuary here and declared that no shooting was to take place within a five mile radius. Sir Peter Scott advised on the importation of marine birds suited to the tropical climate.
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Click here to see Songwa in Google Maps
A Songwa Sailing Club news sheet from 1957 and a caricature of Vice-Commodore Danny Malan. Danny was in Mwadui 1946-63.
The associate editor Mike Croft lived in Hopley Ave, next door to fellow pilot Colin Shedden,opposite the golf course, Mike was the senior pilot and a keen photographer.
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Hon-Treasurer Freda Dent and various characters from the Songwa Sailing Club of 1957. Photos from the Hide family collection ©
The Songwa Sailing Club committee 1957
Left to Right: Jan Botha (Commander), Philip Gettliffe (Sailing Captain), Danny Malan (Vice-Commodore), Freda Dent (Hon Treasurer), Gay du Toit (Hon Secretary), Fred Schindler (member)
J T Williamson (doc) was the Commodore.
Photo from the Danny Malan family Collection ©
Vice-Commodore Danny Malan running his 11th Songwa Christmas Tombola
Photo from the Danny Malan family Collection ©
The Bar upstairs in the clubhouse at Songwa.
Jan Botha, Freda Dent & Gay du Toit enjoying the facilities in the Songwa Sailing Club.
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
The bar has not changed much over all these years, just run the cursor over the photo to check it out
Songwa Sailing Club blazer buttons
Songwa Sailing Club
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Colin Shedden learnt his sailing skills at Songwa and bought a half share in a boat.
Photo from the Hide family collection©
Freda Dent posing on the safety boat, Maple Leaf, alongside at Songwa.
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Songwa Sailing Club c1957
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Doc purchased sixteen Fleetwind class dinghies for the club.
Dr Williamson had a constant battle keeping the dams stocked with fish as the mosquito lava, pelicans and flamingos along with the other fish eating birds ate the fish almost as fast as they could be restocked.
The regatta's were keenly contested
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Click here to see Songwa in Google Maps
Click here to find Songwa on Google Maps
Sailing at Songra
Photos from the Hide family collection ©
Freda Dent & Jaquie Harvey
Bud Hide with son Richard, author of this site
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
One of our many visits to Songwa
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Songwa Club House photo by Mike Croft
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Happy Days at Songwa
Photo from the Dennis Sullivan collection.
Elephant Rock
Freda Dent and Jack ?? admiring the views from Elephant Rock near Songwa.
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Elephant Rock near Songwa was a favorite place for Sunday picnics and weekends.
A keen eye for wild life and snakes was essential as Buffalo, Lions, Leopards, Spitting Cobras, Puff Adders, and Black Mambas had all been spotted nearby.
Photo from the Johnson family collection ©