On April 25, ten more sluice gates were opened at the Vaal Dam. The Dam level is now sitting at 120%.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Wisane Mavasa, water levels continue to rise at Bloemhof Dam due to heavy inflows into the dam.
Mavasa says Bloemhof Dam is sitting at 117.19% as of Monday morning, with more inflows anticipated into the dam. She said outflows may be increased again as and when necessary.
“The DWS continues to monitor inflow water levels in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) to ensure that necessary precautions are in place in line with dam safety standards and hydrological monitoring systems to safeguard infrastructure and attenuate flood conditions,” she said.
Panic spread in the Vaal community as ten massive sluice gates were opened at the Vaal Dam on Thursday.
This has sent panic to the community living on the river banks as flood waves rush downstream on several rivers, leaving numerous residents already impacted. Emergency officials are on high alert, as reports flood in of riverside homes preparing for possible evacuations.
SowetanLive has reported that everyone in danger has been evacuated. Lekwa-Teemane mayor Sebang Motlhabi said: “We have successfully evacuated everyone. Our latest reports confirm that there is no one left on the ground.” The municipality covers a few areas, including Bloemhof and Christiana.
Salaam Foundation’s Farm at the Vaal has also been flooded with water levels at critical capacity. The sluice gates have been opened to manage the heavy inflows into the Vaal Dam.
The Department of Water and Sanitation confirmed the move was necessary due to dangerously high dam levels after relentless rainfall,
“There are potential plans to further increase outflows from both dams tomorrow. One sluice gate remains opened at Grootdraai Dam, and the storage capacity is at 105.71%, with inflows of 141.72 m³/s. In the Orange River, the Gariep and the Vandekloof Dams are currently sitting at 107.13% and 105.3% respectively and overspilling,” the department said in a statement on Thursday.
As a looming headache, some areas are experiencing overflooding, plunging residents into more fear.
