Vaal Dam Now Has 9 Sluice Gates Open – Major Flood Risk Downstream
- Karen Scheepers
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
The Vaal Dam is now releasing water through 10 open sluice gates today , following continued inflows caused by heavy rainfall across the catchment. Earlier today, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) opened the 7th sluice at 09h00, and subsequently opened the 8th, 9th, and 10th gates by early afternoon.
Water levels had surged to over 118% of capacity earlier in the day, and DWS is releasing over 1,100 cubic metres per second to reduce pressure on the dam wall. Engineers are on-site monitoring the structure, and officials have assured the public that dam safety remains a top priority.
Flood Alerts for Parys and Surrounding Areas
Downstream areas including Parys, Vaal Triangle, and Potchefstroom region remain on high flood alert. Emergency services report:
Some residents near the riverbanks in Parys have already been evacuated.
Community shelters are operational, and warnings are active for people within the 100-year floodline.
Roads between Potchefstroom and Parys, as well as sections of the N12, have been impacted by water on the surface, causing dangerous driving conditions and partial closures.
Local authorities and disaster management teams are urging residents to stay clear of riverside zones, relocate livestock, and avoid travel on flooded roads. Communication lines remain open, and residents should monitor updates closely as the situation can escalate quickly.
Message from: Vaaldam & Barrage Levels Whatsapp Group Fri 25 Apr, 2025
Vaal Dam: Increase the outflow today as follows:
09:00 – open a 7th sluice gate
10:00 – open an 8th sluice gate
12:00 – open a 9th sluice gate
13:00 – open a 10th sluice gate
Bloemhof Dam: Increase the outflow today as follows:
09:00 – increase to 2,200 m³/s
11:00 – increase to 2,400 m³/s
13:00 – increase to 2,600 m³/s
15:00 – increase to 2,800 m³/s
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Vaal Dam Sluice Gates Open and Water Level Status
The Vaal Dam releasing a high volume of water through multiple sluice gates as levels exceed capacity (April 25, 2025). The Vaal Dam is experiencing critically high inflows after days of heavy rainfall. By the morning of April 25, 2025, the dam reached about 118.5% of capacity, up from 111% the day before. In response, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) began opening additional sluice gates in a staggered fashion. A seventh gate was opened at 09:00 on April 25, with plans to open an eighth at 10:00, a ninth at 12:00, and a tenth by 13:00 the same day. Water is gushing out of the dam at over 1,100 cubic metres per second, while inflow peaked around 2,448 m³/s on Friday morning witness.co.za.
DWS officials have assured the public that these controlled releases are necessary to protect the dam’s integrity and downstream communities. The dam’s infrastructure is being closely monitored by engineers, and the releases are intended to prevent overtopping or damage citizen.co.za. The department emphasized that dam safety measures are in place, noting that the continuous spillway operations are to prevent infrastructure failure and to safeguard lives and property downstream.
At the same time, authorities warn that the Vaal River downstream of the dam is running very high, and all flood management protocols are activated. In fact, the Vaal Barrage (downstream weir) has been fully opened to “free flow,” allowing all inflow to pass through due to the large volume of water being released. Communities along the Vaal have been alerted that flooding downstream is likely, given the extraordinary outflows.
Officials are on 24-hour watch, ready to adjust outflows further if needed, and will issue advance warnings for any additional gate openings ewn.co.za. DWS has also coordinated with dam operators at other sites – for example, Bloemhof Dam downstream is increasing its outflow in stages (from 2,200 m³/s to 2,800 m³/s on April 25) to accommodate the surge of water coming down the Vaal. All these measures indicate a concerted effort to manage the floodwaters and maintain dam safety while minimizing downstream impacts.
Downstream Impacts in Parys and Potchefstroom Areas
Heavy rainfall and high river levels caused flooding on roads in the region – here a section of the N12 near Potchefstroom is submerged, with vehicles navigating through water.
Communities along the Vaal River – especially in the Free State and North West provinces – are facing flooding hazards from the dam releases and ongoing rain. Residents of Parys, a town on the Vaal River, and other downstream areas have been on high alert for flooding since early April.
Evacuation orders were first issued weeks ago for people in low-lying areas along the Vaal, including Parys and the Vaal Triangle, as the river began to swell businesslive.co.za. Those warnings have continued into this week: by April 24–25, local disaster management confirmed that evacuations are in place in vulnerable riverside communities, and residents are urged to avoid flooded zones citizen.co.za.
Authorities have repeatedly implored anyone within the 100-year floodline of the Vaal to move to safer ground, noting that the controlled and uncontrolled releases will inevitably flood areas near the bankscitizen.co.za. Thus far, some farms and riverside properties in the Parys district have been vacated as a precaution, and emergency shelters were prepared by local municipalities.
In the Vaal Barrage area downstream of the dam, flooding has already been observed, residents there shared reports of rapidly rising water on Thursday evening (April 24) and were urged to exercise extreme caution.
Meanwhile, the city of Potchefstroom and surrounding towns have been grappling with impacts from the same weather system. Torrential downpours from a cut-off low pressure system have drenched parts of the northern Free State and southern North West, leading to urban flooding and road closures independent of the dam releases ofm.co.za.
Notably, a portion of the main road between Potchefstroom and Parys was flooded on the morning of April 25. Although that road (sometimes called the “Parys road”) was not officially closed, water was flowing over the surface, and motorists were urged to drive slowly and with caution through the area. Local authorities suggested alternate routes (“tronkpad” or prison road) for drivers traveling to Parys to avoid the flooded stretch citizen.co.za.
Further north, a more serious disruption occurred on the N12 highway between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp. Sustained heavy rain left parts of the N12 submerged under water, forcing officials to close one carriageway on April 24 ofm.co.za. Traffic officers from North West Province were on site, diverting vehicles and allowing only heavy trucks to pass in one direction where it was deemed safe. Light vehicle drivers were strongly advised to avoid the N12 due to deep water and debris on the road. The scene on the N12 was chaotic, with water pooling across the tarmac. This closure has caused notable transport disruptions in the region, as the N12 is a key route; motorists have been instructed to use alternative roads until floodwaters recede.
Local disaster management centers and municipalities are issuing regular alerts for these areas. The South African Weather Service had a Level 2 disruptive rain warning in effect, highlighting the risk of flooded roads, bridges, and settlements in parts of the North West and Free State ofm.co.za.
Emergency services in both provinces are on high alert, coordinating with the DWS for any escalations. So far, there have been no reports of casualties, but the situation remains dynamic. Parys’s Ngwathe Local Municipality and Potchefstroom officials have opened communication lines to disseminate flood updates to residents.
They advise avoiding the riverfront and any low-lying roads, and to heed official evacuation calls. Community halls in Parys have been readied to shelter evacuees, and farmers along the Vaal are moving livestock to higher ground in line with the earlier advisories businesslive.co.za.
In summary, the Vaal Dam’s ten open sluices are a clear sign of the extreme water volumes being managed. While the dam structure is stable and being carefully controlled, the downstream impact is significant – towns like Parys are braced for possible flooding, and infrastructure in Potchefstroom’s vicinity has already been affected by floodwaters. Residents in all affected communities are urged to remain vigilant and follow updates from DWS, local municipalities, and disaster management teams until the flood threat subsides
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