Videos: 10 sluice gates to be open at Vaal Dam by lunchtime – LNN – Network News

A seventh gate lock will be opened at Vaal Dam at 09:00 today, with more gates to be opened later in the day.

Parys Gazette reported this morning that the eighth gate will be opened at 10:00, the ninth gate will be opened at noon, and the 10^th gate will be opened at 13:00.

The Vaal Dam is now 118.48% full, with inflow measured this morning at 2 448.24 cubic metres per second (m³/s).

Due to the increased outflow at Vaal Dam and more water flowing in from streams, water will now flow freely at the Vaal Barrage, it was said yesterday at 16:47. Free flow means that all of the barrage’s sluices are opened so that any inflow can flow out.

The situation at Bloemhof Dam will be handled as follows today:

• 09:00: Increase outflow to 2 200m³/s
• 11:00: Increase outflow to 2 400m³/s
• 13:00: Increase outflow to 2 600m³/s
• 15:00: Increase outflow to 2 800m³/s

Last night, Vaalweekblad reported flooding in the Vaal Barrage area, and shared a voice note from a community member urging residents to exercise extreme caution due to rapidly rising water levels.

This came after heavy rainfall in the Vaal Dam catchment area and rapidly increasing water inflow forced the Department of Water and Sanitation to open six sluice gates yesterday.

 

Potchefstroom Herald reported this morning that part of the road from Potchefstroom to Parys is under water. While the road is not closed, motorists have been advised to be cautious.

In KZN, South Coast Herald posted photographs of flooded roads on its Facebook page, saying heavy rain had damaged roads and urging road users to be cautious.

 

 

 

 

Highway Mail reported this morning that motorists are urged to exercise caution as major flooding has brought traffic to a standstill on several key routes in Durban today, with the M19 towards Umgeni Road declared a no-go zone due to severe waterlogging.

Other heavily affected areas include Mimosa Road, Queen Nandi Drive and Chris Hani Road, where motorists are experiencing significant delays and road closures.

Emergency services are on high alert.

 

 

On X, Danie Bester posted that rains and flooding in South Africa ‘is at disaster level for crops’. In the video, he is seen wading through crops in chest-deep water.

Rains and flooding in South Africa now is at disaster level for crops. This video taken next to a river. Soybean harvest is not gonna happen in a lot of places. Corn and quality issues is gauranteed to be a problem also. Beans and corn germinating on plants. pic.twitter.com/jq7ynAtEQs

— Danie Bester (@Danetidf) April 24, 2025

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