The Vaal Dam remained above full capacity on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, with the dam now around 80 percent points fuller than it was last year. According to the latest data, the Vaal Dam was recorded at 104.20%, with an inflow of 327.6 cubic metres per second and an outflow of 247.2 cubic metres per second. Two dam gates remained open to manage the excess water.
At the Vaal Barrage, water levels measured 7.5 metres, with an outflow of 342.1 cubic metres per second. The water temperature was recorded at 24.2°C. Authorities continue to monitor the system closely as elevated dam levels increase the risk of strong currents and hazardous conditions along rivers and spillways downstream.
A comparison of dam levels on 29 December over the past decade illustrates the sharp contrast between 2025 and several critically dry years. On 29 December 2025, the dam stood at 103.55%, slightly lower than the previous day, with one gate open. This follows another high-water year in 2022, when the dam measured 102.90% with two gates open, and 2021, which peaked at 108.10%, also with two gates open.
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In stark contrast, the dam was at just 24.25% in 2024, reflecting one of the lowest December levels in recent history. Similarly low levels were recorded in 2016 (43.51%), 2019 (50.22%) and 2020 (51.10%). Moderate levels were observed in 2023 (66.10%), 2018 (73.75%), which marked the lowest point for that year, and 2017 (80.43%).
Higher but stable levels were recorded in 2014 (82.84%) and 2015 (54.33%). The risks associated with high dam levels were underscored on Monday night when four men were rescued from the edge of the Grootdraai Dam spillway near Standerton, Mpumalanga. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said its Witbank and Gauteng stations were activated on Monday, 29 December, following an urgent request from police divers.
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