The directive, issued in terms of Section 118 of the National Water Act, was served on the dam owner, Shamile CPA, on Tuesday, February 3 and requires immediate, time-bound action to stabilise the dam and prevent further deterioration in order to protect lives, livelihoods and property downstream.

This intervention follows ongoing technical assessments which confirmed that the dam is still in a compromised and partially failed condition, and that without urgent remedial action, further deterioration is likely to continue. As outlined in the directive,
these conditions pose an unacceptable level of risk that cannot be adequately managed through monitoring alone. The department is therefore acting decisively to ensure that the dam owner fulfils their legal responsibility to maintain the dam in
a safe condition.

The implications of inaction are significant as continued deterioration of the dam poses a direct threat to downstream farming communities, including the potential loss of life, damage to homes and infrastructure. These risks are heightened during
periods of rainfall and cannot be ignored or deferred. For this reason, the department is clear that the risk associated the dam has not yet been averted, and regulatory enforcement will remain in place until that risk is meaningfully reduced.

READ | More risk mitigation measures in place to reduce Senteeko Dam risk of collapse

DWS says while water levels in the dam have dropped, the reduction has not been sufficient to eliminate the risk of failure. Engineers have consciously avoided lowering the water level too rapidly, as this could trigger a rapid drawdown failure of the already compromised dam structure, which would significantly worsen the situation.

“To address the prevailing risk, the Department has directed the dam owner’s Appointed Professional Engineer (APP) to urgently assess the condition of the dam and determine the specific remedial measures required to prevent further deterioration and reduce the risk of failure. These determinations must be completed within seven days from the date of the directive and submitted to the Department’s Dam Safety Office for review and approval,” reads a statement.

ALSO READ | Mpumalanga floods leave trail of destruction

Once the proposed measures are approved, the department will require the dam owner to immediately commence urgent repair works, including the appointment of a competent and suitably qualified contractor. All repair works must be carried out
under the supervision of the APP and continue until the department is satisfied that the dam no longer poses an unacceptable risk to downstream communities.

Required engineering designs and technical submissions are expected to be received on or before 13 February 2026, in strict accordance with the timelines set out in the directive. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in further enforcement action, as provided for by the law.

The post DWS issues dam safety directive to Senteeko Dam owner appeared first on MP Mirror Online.

This is following the impact of recent heavy rains which have compromised the safety of the structure located outside Barberton. A follow-up visit led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Head of Specialist Unit: Dam Safety, Wally Ramokopa, confirmed that the risk of the spillway collapse is still high as erosion underneath continues. 

READ | Boy (10) drowns at Kwena Dam

Emergency interventions are underway to relieve pressure on the dam, while monitoring and technical assessments continue. The risk mitigation measures are being implemented by the owner of the dam, Shamile Communal Property Association (CPA) together with its APP under the supervision of the DWS.

As part of interventions to further reduce the disaster risk and potential impact, the emergency spillway that was excavated to redirect water out of the dam. It has been widened to increase the outflow and further reduce the volume of water in the dam.

Ramokopa stated that a temporary measure has been put in place while the are still trying to lower the capacity of the dam to reduce the risk even if the dam fails.

“Working together with the Irrigation Board and the owners of the dam, we have restricted the flow of water on the spillway by opening another spillway, referred to as the emergency spillway channel. We have now widened that spillway to ensure that water is restricted on the existing spillway and is redirected to come out on the side,” said Ramokopa.

READ MORE | R2bn required for infrastructure damage

The DWS has also conducted a flood path analysis to identify. They also assessed the areas that may be affected in the event of the dam collapses and only farming communities have been identified on the flood path. No densely populated communities were identified in the analysis for at least 30km, to the bridge at the R40 provincial road. The water flow will have no impact on neighbouring countries like Mozambique and Eswatini.

Meanwhile, the irrigation for Senteeko citrus is also affected due to pumps that have submerged. Irrigation will commence once the water has subsided and the pumps are repaired.

While highly concentrated communities such as New Consort or Low’s Creek would not experience any impact as they are approximately 25km away from the dam impact point. CoGHSTA emphasised that all affected stakeholders are being engaged to save lives should the dam collapse.

Government urges the affected communities to heed and comply to evacuation warnings as the risk of failure remains at the dam. The public is also advised to avoid low-water bridges, unnecessary travel and activities near rivers.

The post More risk mitigation measures in place to reduce Senteeko Dam risk of collapse appeared first on MP Mirror Online.