The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation (DWS) is the latest authority to warn residents downstream of the privately owned Senteeko Dam in the Die Kaap River catchment (Barberton, Mpumalanga), to evacuate.
The Department said on Friday, its emergency safety assessment found severe erosion and structural deterioration on the spillway, making failure possible without further warning.
DWS also said it is coordinating with authorities (including disaster management and emergency services) on response measures.
Earlier this week, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Melalane, said the dam will take several hours to empty, while the water heads to the Crocodile River.
The De Kaap River was flowing at 70 cubic meters per second on Monday, the 19th January 2025.
Philip Minnaar, Councillor of the area, also alerted residents via social media, that affected communities are those close to the Lower Queens at confluence with Suidkaap (Daisy Kopje), Lower Noordkaap at confluence with Suidkaap (Consort mine), Eureka IB, Low’s Creek IB, Laer-kaap IB and the Kaap and Crocodile confluence at Matsulu/Kaapmuiden.
Picture: Supplied