VAAL DAM – A tenth sluice gate was opened at the Vaal Dam today.

Authorities opened four more this morning, to manage rising water levels.

This comes after water levels risen rapidly overnight in the Vaal Dam due to heavy inflows on the upper catchments, as a result of the continuous above-normal rainfall on already saturated catchments.

In a statement, the department announced that an additional four sluice gates were opened gradually on Friday from 9am until 1pm.

The dam is currently sitting at 118.48% with an inflow of 2448.24 cubic metres per second (m3/s) into the dam.

These adjustments are necessary to manage the continuous rising inflows and safe operation of the Vaal Dam.

People living within the floodline downstream of the Vaal and Dam, and have had to evacuate, have been urged to continue to avoid the flooded areas, as the river catchment remains oversaturated.

At this stage there is no talk of any more sluice gates being opened.

Sedibeng Ster will keep its readers informed of any further developments