Communities along Vaal, Orange river warned about rising waters

The Northern Cape Department of Water and Sanitation issued a warning to communities along Vaal and Orange river systems.

Both rivers continue to rise due to water being released upstream. The Orange river at Upington is now measuring at over 5.6 metres, meanwhile, the Augrabies Waterfall is flooded for the third time in the space of a year.

South African National Parks (SANParks) arid region spokesperson, Genevieve Maasdorp says the fall is thundering at a speed of more than 2400 cubic metres per second and is set to become even more breath-taking.

Maasdorp says, “More water is on its way. It will reach its peak in the next three days and will remain the same and will slowly decline over the next two weeks. This means there will be high levels of water for approximately the next three weeks.”

Vaal River | Water levels rise significantly causing damage in Bloemhof:

In January 2022, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the North West reported that  72 households and 50 chalets had been evacuated in Bloemhof.

This due to the Water and Sanitation Department releasing water from the Vaal and Bloemhof dams, in efforts to reduce water levels following heavy rainfall.

Downstream water levels were said to be also rising rapidly and led to fear of possible flooding.