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Farmers from Lekwa suffers flood damage

Alberto Franco explains what might have gone wrong.

Alleged negligent management of pre-flood preparations could have contributed to farms along the Vaal River flooding, leading to damages estimated at millions.

Farmer Andries van der Linde suffered R750 000 in damage to his fields. He says the fields were planted with corn shortly before the water overflowing from Grootdraai Dam flooded mass portions of his farm.

Alberto Franco, the Ward 8 Clr and a DA representative believes the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) waited too long before opening the dam’s sluice gates.

According to Franco, flow stations and current meters monitor the flow into the dam and indicate when the sluices must be opened.

Franco said these situations require preventative measures, not crisis management.


The Kaalspruit River Bridge overflows.

“If you can determine the flow, you can determine how long it will take to fill the dam and plan accordingly to ensure the least damage,” added Franco.

Farmers affected by the floods pleaded with the DWS to ensure it monitors dam levels and opens the sluice gates timeously.

“Though we remain grateful for the rain, we simply request more attentive monitoring of the water levels so we can prevent future flood damage to our fields,” concluded Van der Linde.

The Kaalspruit River bridge connecting the road from Tweedronk to Kaalspruit overflowed on January 13. Sources say the roadway was dilapidated due to heavy rainfall. AfriForum attended the scene and shut the road.

According to Leon Enslin, the chairperson of AfriForum Standerton, farmers took it upon themselves to restore the bridge.

The Lekwa Local Municipality had not released information about the flood damage at the time of going to print.


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