By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

7 April 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass cautioned the communities in low-lying areas of the riverbanks in the Northern Cape of possible overtopping following the opening of the 5^th sluice gate of the Vaal Dam on 6 April 2025, by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Vass said due to the increased water releases by the five sluice gates, there might be a possible overflow at the riverbanks downstream and this will affect infrastructure built in lower-lying areas within the 100 metres.

He further discourages people from conducting rituals at the rivers and activities like baptisms, swimming and fishing and crossing the rivers by foot or with motor vehicles on submerged bridges. Vass added that, they have engaged all five District Disaster Management Centres across the province to submit situational reports to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC), so that should the need arise for immediate intervention and mobilisation of resources, they are ready at the PDMC to provide such support.

“The department through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre is on high alert for immediate response.  The Department of Water and Sanitation is continuously monitoring the water levels in the Vaal River System,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said due to the rapid increase of inflows into the Vaal Dam, a 5^th sluice gate has been opened on Sunday to manage water levels that have increased overnight as a result of the ongoing rainfall in the Vaal River catchment.

Mavasa said this is 24-hours after the department opened the 4^th sluice gate at the Vaal Dam.

“The water storage levels at the dam stood at 108% on Friday, but as of Sunday, the levels had risen to 109%. The outflows at the dam will increase from 550 cubic metres per second (mᵌ/s) to just under 700 mᵌ/s.

“The inflows into the dam have increased since this morning from 1000 m3/s to 1200 m3/s by midday.

Bloemhof Dam storage levels have also risen from yesterday’s 103% to 107% this morning and water releases will be staggered incrementally from the current 1000 mᵌ/s to 1 100 m³/s at 10am; 1 200 m³/s at 12h00; 1 300 m³/s at 14h00 and the last increase at 16h00 to 1 400 m3/s,” he said.

Mavasa further said the increased outflows from Vaal Dam are expected to reach the Vaal Barrage in about 6 hours and Bloemhof Dam in 3 to 4 days and will result in water levels rising in both the dam and the river, overtopping the riverbanks. He added that, due to increased water releases by the five sluice gates, there might be a possible overflowing at the riverbanks downstream and this will affect infrastructure built in lower lying areas within the 100-year floodline.

“People living within the high floodline of the Vaal River downstream of the Vaal Dam and the Bloemhof Dam should evacuate and move to a safe area, and remove valuable equipment, movable infrastructure and livestock.

At Grootdraai Dam located in Mpumalanga in the Upper Vaal River Catchment, upstream of the Vaal Dam, one sluice gate remains open to enable water releases. The Dam is currently sitting at 102%.

“The department is implementing these necessary controlled water releases at the dams as part of dam safety precautions to safeguard the infrastructure. DWS is continuously monitoring the water levels in the Vaal River System,” said Mavasa.

He said through various platforms, the department continuously shares hydrology reports and provides regular updates regarding the water levels in the dams, with recommendations in order to provide early warnings in case of flooding.
taungdailynews@gmail.com