Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau, says this is as a result of water levels continuing to increase due to heavy rainfall. Some parts of the Northern Cape has in the past two weeks received rainfall of between 50-100mm, according to the SA Weather Services, resulting in localised flooding in some areas. 

Previous dry islands and riverbeds were also significantly recharged and refilled due to rain, adds Ratau.

Communities have been advised to remove livestock and avoid fishing and swimming in the current flooding water bodies to avoid the risk of drowning. It is also not allowed, in accordance with Level 3 COVID-19 regulations, says Ratau. 

Farming and mining activities along the Vaal and Orange River Systems have also been warned to remove water pumps and equipment to avoid damage to property. Provincial Disaster Teams, District and Local Authorities are on high alert and has implemented measures in place to avoid loss of human lives, livestock or damage to property adds Ratau.  

According to the latest real-time unverified data, the Orange River at Prieska was yesterday flowing a 790.81 m3/s, Gariep Dam at 98.57% and Vanderkloof Dam at 79.52% storage capacity. The Vaal Dam is at 65.31% full, with the Vaalharts storage weir at 75.75% (belly sluices have been opened to allow high flow from Bloemhof through), Bloemhof Dam 107,3% from last weeks’ 108.8% with a release of 800 m3/s. The Douglas storage weir is 140.74% full. At Sendelingsdrift, flood water released from Naute Dam in Namibia surpassed the structure limit of 2.8 m (500 m3/s) by approximately 3.0 m last week Wednesday.

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