THE EASTERN CAPE Finance, Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism Department has invested R4,6m in tourism projects, according to Africa.com. Department mec, Enoch Godongwana, confirmed that the department had invested R2,8m in a Gariep Dam tourism project and was contributing R1,8m in public-private partnership upgrading the Aliwal North Spa. The Eastern Cape government also intends to "forge a partnership" with the Free State province over the use of the Gariep Dam. Improvements to the camping site and the building of a cultural village are already "in progress" with 140 people employed in the project. A further 42 are being trained in various skills. Gariep Dam, formerly the Verwoerd Dam, was built in 1972 and is the largest dam in South Africa. It stores water from the Orange River in a 100km long and 374 sq km wide dam.