The flooding of the Vaal River has caused considerable crop damages along its banks in three provinces, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Monday.
“We have really been touched by the amount of devastation, particularly in Christiana and Bloemhof,” she told the South African Press Association in a telephone interview.
Molewa visited Douglas in the Northern Cape as well as Christiana and Bloemhof in the North West and Free State provinces to witness the effects of the flooding along the Vaal.
It was the second time that crops in the Christiana and Bloemhof areas had been flooded since heavy rains started to fall in December last year.
“They were better prepared this time but you cannot remove crops from the farm and they were badly, badly affected.”
Molewa said municipalities had also been affected, with submerged sewage pumps and damage to roads.
Molewa said her department would in future work more closely with farmers and communities to minimise the effects of flooding.
“We are here to also encourage them and help them with advice on what could be done to minimise the effect of floods.”
The Water Affairs department announced it was planning to close the sluice gates at the overflowing Vaal Dam on Monday.
The Vaal dam was currently 110% full and still rising. Flood warnings have been issued to communities downstream of the dam and the other three major dams — Bloemhof, Gariep and Vanderkloof.
Hundreds of people were displaced across the country after rain damaged property. – Sapa