People living near Vaal Dam urged to move

Residents of low-lying areas near the Vaal Dam are urged to evacuate
due to potential flooding risks.

The Water and Sanitation Department has reported a rapid increase in
inflows into the Vaal Dam, prompting the opening of a fifth sluice
gate to manage the escalating water levels.

The dam has surpassed 100% capacity, with additional rainfall expected
during the week.

Owner of Manten Marina, which houses the National Sea Rescue Institute
Station 22 on the Vaal Dam Kathy Manten, says they've been noticing an
increasing water volume on Saturday and began moving some of their
stuff.

Tune into Newzroom Afrika DStv channel 405 for more.

[PatBouwer]

Dear Lord I pray psalm 91 over the people in this area. Father your hand is huge, please take care of these people. Save the people I ask in the name of Jesus!

[BrendaOpperman]

Very good interview thank you!!👏👏 May all go well with the people affected. 🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏿

[ArmandGroenewald]

The Vaal is flooded because DWS closed valves, and held back the water.
They opened Valves at 98%, leading to a 60.1m3/s outflow, they started to close the values at 101% to 41.7m3/s, and decreased the outflow even further at 102% to 16.8m3/s.
The kept it at the lowest outflow of 16.8m3/s until it reached 106%. Then they started opening the Gates.

Same as two years ago, they hold back the water until they can flood downstream. Two years ago, it was cable issues, this time it was human induced.

Weather reports contradict PR reports of "No big rains expected".

Its missmamagement.

[teen-queen]

If we have enough water in the dams. Stop the water restrictions. Give us water.

[Captian-ct]

That should have been opened prior to 20% full capacity to maintain safe levels

[BrakJan]

All that water and not a drop to drink.

[MaureenMoonsamy]

Pray 4 protection 🙏 🙌 ✨️ ♥️ over the people living near the dam 🙏 ❤ God bless ❤️ 💖 them 💖 🙏

[catherinethemba]

This is why there used to be no building in the 100 year flood line.

[jasonventer]

Did we forget how to manage our dams? Thus happened last you too. They waiting until the vaal was over 100 percent to open 1 gate?

[PatBouwer]

The govt needs to do something and there should be more flood management and govt needs to be held accountable

[KristelViljoen]

The dam is leaking. My guess is that they are more worried it will colapse. Just like the Merriespruit tailings dam disaster that occurred on the night of 22 February 1994 when a tailings dam failed and flooded the suburb of Merriespruit, Virginia, Free State, South Africa. Seventeen people were killed. If this happens at the Vaal it would be far worse. They didn't keep up with maintenance for far too long.

[peetschabort]

Take note what Kathy is saying. Manten Marina is already there for 51 years!!

[monicakieck]

Why don't the water get to the taps? Change management!

[Rumpelstiltskin]

New SA sewage disposal. A serious health risk.

[ArmandGroenewald]

Timeline and Escalation

From late February, inflows into the dam began to rise sharply, peaking at 720.7 m³/s by 24 February. Despite this, dam authorities kept discharge at a minimal 16.8 m³/s and no sluice gates were opened.

Over the next week, the dam’s storage rose rapidly, reaching full capacity (100%) by 7 March and continuing to rise past safe limits. Still, discharge remained low, and no preemptive action was taken to release water.

Only by 21 March, after the dam had already reached 107% capacity, were sluice gates opened, starting with just one. By then, the dam was under extreme pressure, and downstream flooding risk had already increased.

The situation peaked in early April when inflows surged again, exceeding 1, 100 m³/s. In response, discharge was finally increased significantly, and all five sluice gates were fully opened.

Key Issues and Mismanagement

Delayed Discharge: Authorities failed to release water in time, choosing to retain inflows even as the dam approached and exceeded full capacity.

No Early Warning: Withholding sluice gate operations during the buildup phase left little buffer for sudden inflow spikes, turning the situation into an emergency.

Reactive Strategy: The response only escalated after the dam was already overwhelmed, forcing a sudden and extreme discharge that increased the risk of downstream flooding.

Conclusion

The Vaal Dam flood crisis was a clear case of reactive water management. Had discharges been increased and sluice gates opened earlier — when inflows were already known to be high — the dam could have maintained safer levels and avoided reaching dangerous thresholds. The lack of timely intervention not only compromised dam integrity but also amplified flood risk for communities downstream. This incident underscores the urgent need for proactive flood management protocols and real-time response systems.

[zakiya]

Imagine to say no point complaining as nobody is listening. What the heck ANC?

Nobody from goverment has reach out. How disgusting. These are citizens of South Africa.

All goverment cares about is lining their pockets, nothing is done in regards to corruption, Infrastructure is a huge issue and no maintenence is done.

Yet, we pay taxes. Everything in South Africa is not free.

Best of luck to all of you. My prayers are with you.

[sharonjames]

😢Where are de Peoples suppose tu go 🤔is there shelter for them ✊🏿💔❤

[Macedonia]

Imagine what would happen if/when the dam collapses? I imagine the criminal ANC will not waste money on something they cannot steal from? So, no maintenance done on the dam wall?

[TonyPoulter]

Raw water to drinking quality is a process that anc cadres don't understand

[bobbybill]

YET WE HAVE NO FARRRKING WATER IN JHB, SIEEEES