Emergency work underway to prevent Senteeko Dam collapse in Mpumalanga

Emergency work is underway to create a temporary channel to lower water levels and prevent an uncontrolled release of water from the Senteeko Dam in Barberton, Mpumalanga.

The Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Mbombela have warned farming communities around the dam to evacuate until work is complete.

The dam, owned by the Shamile Communal Property Association, is mainly used for irrigation.

Department Spokesperson, Wally Ramokopa, said: "We restricted the flow of water over the spillway by opening another spillway which is an emergency channel. We are still busy now widening so that when water is restricted to go over the spillway we can allow water to go on the other side. This is a temporary measure that we've put in place while trying to lower water levels so we can reduce the risk. But we are very far from that."

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Urgent evacuation notice issued for residents downstream of Senteeko dam

An inspection of the Senteeko Dam revealed serious structural damage that risks the lives of communities living downstream.

The dam is located in the Die Kaap River catchment in Barberton.

The Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Mbombela issued a joint urgent evacuation notice last week for residents living downstream.

The notice follows concerns about structural failures exacerbated by recent rainfall in the province.

Ramokopa, a safety officer at the department, said that the dam’s spillway slab suffered significant damage.

"With the current floods the AVP line was not properly anchored against the concrete and water actually came underneath the lining and eroded the material as it went under the concrete slab and now its actually hanging. That's why we issued a warning."