Klerksdorp Midweek, Orkney - Residents next to the Vaal River at Orkney Vaal, private small holdings, the boating club etc were told to evacuate over the past weekend with the Vaal River in flood.
Due to the rapid increase of inflows into the Vaal Dam, a fifth sluice gate was opened on Sunday morning April 6 to manage water levels that have increased overnight as a result of the ongoing rainfall in the Vaal River catchment. A fourth sluice gate was opened Saturday morning April 5.
The water storage levels at the Vaal Dam stood at 107.82% on Saturday but the levels have risen to 109.39% on Sunday morning.
The outflows at the dam will move from 550 cubic metres per second (mᵌ/s) to just under 700 mᵌ/s. The inflows into the dam are currently 1000 m3/s.
Bloemhof Dam storage levels have also risen from Saturday’s 103.23% to 106.91% on Sunday morning and water releases will be staggered incrementally from the current 1000 mᵌ/s to 1 100 m³/s at 10am; 1 200 m³/s at 12h00; 1 300 m³/s at 14h00 and the last increase at 16h00 to 1 400 m3/s.
The increased outflows from Vaal Dam will result in water levels rising in both the dams and the river, overtopping of the riverbanks.
Meanwhile with excessive rain the past ten days in the Kosh Area, collapsing road infrastructure has almost brought the city to a standstill. Even on the N12 close to Stilfontein, traffic on this busy national road is being diverted through town because of flooding, and this now causes further da-mage to Stilfontein roads.
On Monday April 7, Executive Mayor Fikile Mahlope addressed the media following the closure of the N12 and evacuation of residents in low lying areas due to flooding.
At the scene where water is flooding the N12 he gave his assurance that the municipality is not sitting with folded arms. “Although it is the responsibility of SANRAL to take care of the N12, the municipality is doing some work to drain the water from the road. We also approached the provincial Department of Public Works and Roads and the Office of the Premier to assist in fixing the main roads across the city,’’ he said.
According to the mayor, the municipality has recently tabled its draft budget and will have to make some adjustments to cater for the damage the rain has made to the road infrastructure across the city.
Potholes in particular have become exacerbated as a result of the incessant rain being experienced.
Concerning the evacuation of residents, he said the municipality has offered some accommodation at the city’s recreation facilities.
He appealed to motorists using the road between Stilfontein and Klerksdorp and Stilfontein and Potchefstroom to remain patient and follow the temporary traffic diversion provided.
