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The Department of Water & Sanitation has warned people living in low-lying areas around the Vaal River to evacuate due to rising water levels.
This comes after the department was forced to open a 5th sluice gate at Vaal Dam to manage water levels, after levels increased to 109.39% yesterday following massive downpours.
spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said residents situated near the banks of the Vaal River are encouraged to start removing valuable equipment, including movable infrastructure and livestock, to avoid any possible damage.
“The increased outflows at the Vaal Dam are expected to reach Bloemhof Dam in three to four days and will result in water levels rising in Bloemhof and overtopping riverbanks, and this will affect those in the riverbanks downstream at the lower Vaal catchment.”
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Mavasa said people living in “areas around the Vaal Triangle, Parys [and] low-lying areas next to the river” needed to evacuate. This included farmers with pumps and infrastructure next to the river and people living below the barrage and near tributaries close to the Vaal River.
“Those [situated on the banks] of the Vaal river are urged to start removing valuable equipment, movable infrastructure and livestock and to evacuate to avoid any possible damage or loss of life when the riverbanks overtop.”
Mavasa said one sluice gate had been opened at the Grootdraai Dam in Mpumalanga to release water as the dam was 102.41% full on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, a Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms and flooding in the Northern Cape was issued on Monday.
️️️ WEATHER UPDATE: Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms and flooding in the Northern Cape on Monday. See https://t.co/qs5oMScTA4 for the full forecast #saws #saweather #forecast #weatherwarnings #heatwave pic.twitter.com/9SuApUKqWd
— Snow Report Southern Africa (@SnowReportSA) April 6, 2025
[Source: Timeslive]
