The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has today opened five (5) sluice gates at the Vaal Dam at hourly intervals, from 10:00 until 13:00, to gradually increase water outflows up to approximately 700 cubic metres per second (mᵌ/s) from 60 mᵌ/s that was released on the morning of the 16th of November 2025. At Bloemhof Dam, water outflows have also been increased from 60 to 250 mᵌ/s at 10:00, and to 400 mᵌ/s at 14:00.

This is due to the rising water levels at both dams due to the ongoing rains in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, including other parts of the country where rains have been persistent. Vaal and Bloemhof Dams have respectively recorded 108.47% and 99.81% this morning.

Due to increased water releases by the five sluice gates, there may be possible overflowing of the riverbanks downstream, and this may affect infrastructure built in lower-lying areas within the floodplain and communities are urged to be alert to the rising water levels.

The Department of Water and Sanitation further cautions communities around the Vaal Triangle, Parys, and low-lying areas next to the river to be cautious, and farmers that have pumps and infrastructure directly next to the river are urged to take steps to safeguard them.

Those residing in the riparian areas of the Vaal River are also urged to be alert and remove valuable equipment, movable infrastructure, and livestock as river levels may continue to rise.

As part of the dam safety protocols, sluice gates are opened for controlled water releases when dam levels rise sharply and to prevent the water resource infrastructure from failing, as it may lead to a dam bursting and causing a disaster of unimaginable magnitude. The Department implements these necessary controlled water releases at the dams as part of dam safety precautions to safeguard the infrastructure and to protect human life.

The Department of Water and Sanitation will continue to actively monitor the inflow water levels at both Vaal and Bloemhof Dams.