New floods hamper repair efforts
Peter Luhanga
After a catastrophic flood due to a dam break on 8 August which destroyed homes and left 14 people hospitalised, residents of Riverlands outside Malmesbury suffered a second flash flood on 17 August.
The second flood happened when the national Department of Water and Sanitation, who are responsible for the dams, tried to release the water from the remaining fourth, and largest dam via a spillway. This triggered a fresh wave of evacuations from the semi-rural settlement.
The initial floods ten days earlier had left 444 residents homeless, damaged crops and killed livestock which the Riverlands small-scale farmers rely on to make a living.
Some homes were partially destroyed, while others were completely swept away. (See Iliso LaBantu mid-August edition)
The dam, located on Dassenberg Farm, was deliberately emptied on Saturday, 17 August to prevent a more severe collapse, following a critical inspection revealing a potential failure.
Swartland municipal spokesperson Mart-Marié Haasbroek confirmed the decision to evacuate residents living north of the Riverlands Primary School was precautionary.
Haasbroek stated despite the intense flooding, which left many residents shaken, there were no reported injuries or fatalities on 17 August, but Emergency Medical Services treated several people for shock at the Riverlands Clinic.
She said by late afternoon on 17 August, residents were allowed to return to their homes.
“No new damage to infrastructure was reported, although the flood exacerbated existing issues. Swartland Municipality is currently providing shelter and essential aid to 128 displaced residents across two community centres. Assistance is also being extended to those who have lost essential paperwork or suffered severe losses,” stated Haasbroek.
She said the floods had disrupted the municipality’s ongoing efforts to repair water infrastructure damaged by the earlier dam breaches. She said initial repairs were undone by the floodwaters, forcing the municipality to restart the repair process. Meanwhile, water is being delivered by a fleet of tankers.
Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sanku Tsunke stated the decision to use the spillway was made to avert a potential catastrophic collapse of Dam 4.
Tsunke stated an inspection on 12 August had identified a progressing piping failure at the dam’s highest section, compromising its integrity.
“The controlled release of water was carried out during daylight hours to manage the increased outflow safely,” said Tsunke.
He said Dam 4’s wall had not failed, and the damage observed was primarily due to the previous week’s dam breaches.
He said his department remains committed to safeguarding public safety, even if it necessitates difficult decisions like precautionary evacuations.
“The situation in Riverlands is stabilising as residents adjust to the new normal. The Swartland Municipality continues to monitor the area closely and provide support as needed. Further updates will be issued as more information becomes available,” he said.