DWS opens 5th sluice gate at Vaal Dam after water levels surge overnight

JOHANNESBURG - Following another day of persistent downpour, the Department of Water and Sanitation has opened a fifth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam to manage water levels that have surged overnight.

The latest sluice gate was opened on Sunday morning, just 24 hours after the department activated the fourth gate.

Residents living near the banks of the Vaal River were advised on Saturday to move all their valuables as a precaution in case the riverbanks swell with water.

Water storage levels at the Vaal Dam stood at over 100% on Saturday, and as of Sunday morning, the levels had increased to approximately 109%.

The Bloemhof Dam has also seen a significant rise in its storage levels since Saturday.

The department said the increased outflows from the Vaal Dam were expected to reach the barrage in at least six hours and the Bloemhof Dam in three to four days.

This surge will likely result in water levels rising in both the dam and the river, potentially overtopping riverbanks.

Residents in areas around the Vaal Triangle, low-lying regions near Parys, and farmers with pumps and infrastructure adjacent to the river have been advised to evacuate.

The department said it would continue implementing controlled water releases at the dams as part of safety precautions to safeguard infrastructure and ensure adequate storage following the rainfall season.