With parts of the country grappling with heavy rains and swelling rivers, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pamela Majodina made her way to Bloemhof Dam on Friday, April 11.
Her visit came as concerns mount over infrastructure damage and the safety of communities living downstream after a significant surge of water inflow and high-volume releases caused flooding in nearby areas.
While the skies may have cleared temporarily, the aftermath and risk of further flooding remain very real for residents living near the riverbanks.
Government Distances Itself from Damage to Risky Structures
During an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Majodina didn’t hold back.
She made it clear that the government won’t be footing the bill for damages to properties that were built too close to the floodline.
Her message was firm—these homes are located in high-risk areas that should never have been occupied in the first place.
“The communities that are complaining have encroached on the floodline,” Majodina said.
“And no government will take responsibility for their property loss.”
In other words, the government is not going to compensate residents who built on land prone to flooding, despite the current water-related damages.
A Direct Warning to Residents Living in Flood-Prone Areas
The Minister issued a stern warning to those still living in these vulnerable zones.
In her own words, she made it crystal clear: if they don’t move, they are putting their lives at serious risk.
“I want to come and tell them without mixing my words that they must move away from the floodline because they are going to be washed away by this water,” she cautioned.
Majodina’s visit wasn’t just about assessing the dam—it was a direct message to the communities at risk: act now or face the consequences.
Rising Dam Levels and Continued Water Releases
The concerns aren’t unfounded. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, water levels at Vaal Dam have hit 112.85%, with massive inflows of 1,248.11 cubic meters per second from upstream.
That’s a lot of water moving downstream—and it needs to go somewhere.
To manage the situation, five sluice gates at the dam remain open, currently discharging around 793 cubic meters of water per second.
While this helps control the dam levels, it’s also increasing the flood threat to lower-lying areas.
Could Infrastructure Be at Risk Again?
Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa shared with Mail & Guardian that there’s a real risk of “possible overtopping” along the riverbanks.
That means areas within the one-in-100-year floodline—those particularly vulnerable spots—could be overwhelmed.
If there’s infrastructure built in those areas, especially homes or community buildings, the damage could be severe if water levels keep rising or remain high for too long.
Should the Government Step In to Relocate Communities?
The big question now is this: should the government help move at-risk communities before disaster strikes? While Minister Majodina has made her position clear, others might argue that support should still be provided, especially when lives are in danger.
What’s your take? Should people be left to handle it on their own if they built too close to the water, or does the government have a responsibility to step in?
