JOHANNESBURG - Lochvaal residents in Vanderbijlpark have threatened to take legal action against Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation for allegedly causing the recent floods.
The Department of Water and Sanitation said that this was because heavy rains had caused dams, which feed into the Vaal and Orange River systems, to overflow. Lochvaal residents believe that the flooding could have been avoided if the 12 dam gates were opened gradually.This is despite the Department of Water and Sanitation saying that the gates had to be opened, as the water levels at the Vaal Dam were too high."We have a lawyer that is going to represent all of us, so this will not be left just here. We have lost everything.
Government must break down the vaal dam so that rain water flows naturally in the vaal river. This will prevent flooding of communities close by when the dam sluice gates. Sluice gates are opened to prevent the dam walls collapsing due to overflow.
Don't build under floodlines
Govt blocks the free flow of water with the dam, then floods communities with a sudden deluge of water from the gates. Sue!