GAUTENG - VAAL DAM FULL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 6 YEARS

One of South Africa’s largest dams is full for the first time in six years.

The announcement comes after two sluice gates at Vaal Dam, which is about 77km (47 miles) south of Johannesburg, were opened by Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane on Sunday.

She warned of possible flooding downstream

The minister said after recent heavy rainfall dam levels countrywide were looking promising:

The country’s drought outlook is looking up. Most dams and systems are showing recovery at different levels."
With Val Dam at 100% capacity, residents of Gauteng Province, which includes the country’s economic hub Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, are likely to see an easing on water restrictions imposed during the devastating drought.

But Sputnik Ratau, spokesman for the water affairs department, said: “What we want to caution is that we’d rather that the practice of water saving becomes second nature.”

The sluice gates are expected to remain open for at least the next couple of days  

VIA - bbc / Johannesburg Water