Bursting at the seams

Don't panic, it can cause a disaster and dam is not going to collapse - minister.

- Faizel Patel & Enkosi Selane

Could the Vaal Dam soon begin spilling, for the first time in almost two years? And what happens if its capacity reaches 100% - will there be danger for people and properties downstream of the dam wall?

Those are questions being asked as the massive dam edges closer to the full mark, following recent good rain in its catchment area.

Yesterday, the dam capacity stood at 92.47% - almost 10 percentage points up from what it was last Monday. It has recovered significantly from the first week of January, when it stood at over 23%.

The department of water and sanitation is monitoring its levels daily. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the dam's sluice gates are up to standard and would only release water according to their standards.

Majodina said the department would inform affected communities if water needed to be released to ensure a normal level.

"We cannot allow the dam to overflow again. It can cause a disaster and that dam is not going to collapse," Majodina said.

"We have checked through our dam safety. We are still intact, but when we are about to release water just to ensure that we have a normal level, we are going to inform the community that they must not be scared when they see a lot of water coming out.

"Already in December, we prepared the communities to say it takes three days for released water to go to the Vaal Dam and to come to Gauteng. People were just watching because we cannot risk the lives of our people. Water can be a good thing, but it can be very dangerous."