Dam owner given seven days to prevent Senteeko collapse

The Department of Water and Sanitation has issued an urgent safety directive to the owner of the Senteeko Dam in Mpumalanga, demanding immediate action to address serious risks to downstream communities. The directive, served on Tuesday, under Section 118 of the National Water Act, requires Shamile CPA to develop a comprehensive plan within seven days to stabilise the structure and prevent further deterioration. Wisane Mavasa, the department’s spokesperson, confirmed that the intervention follows extensive technical assessments, which revealed the dam remains in a precarious state.

“These conditions pose an unacceptable level of risk that cannot be adequately managed through monitoring alone,” Mavasa said. She emphasised the department’s commitment to ensuring the dam owner fulfils their legal responsibility to maintain the structure safely. The dam, officially known as My Own Dam but commonly referred to as Senteeko Dam, is currently in a compromised, partially failed condition.

Without urgent remedial action, further deterioration is likely to continue. Mavasa stressed the gravity of the situation, noting that inaction could have devastating consequences. “Continued deterioration of the dam poses a direct threat to downstream farming communities, including the potential loss of life, damage to homes and infrastructure,” she said. “These risks are heightened during periods of rainfall and cannot be ignored or deferred.” The department has made clear that despite some reduction in water levels, the risk of failure has not been eliminated.