THE Department of Water and Sanitation has responded to a video of slabs collapsing at the Bloemhof Dam in the Free State.

The video has gone viral on social media, raising alarm bells among citizens.

However, the Department has urged people to refrain from sharing misinformation which leads to panicking.

Wisane Mavasa spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation said they were aware of the video circulating on social media showing damages of the upstream slopes slabs of the Bloemhof Dam.

"We are aware of the damages of the slabs and would like to advise our stakeholders and the public that despite these damages, there is no imminent risk of the dam failure.

"The perception is that these slabs were damaged due to recent or previous floods. However, we can categorically state that it is not the case.

"The issue at this moment started a while back, when the fine materials started leaching through the superficial construction joints opening on the slab due to wave action."

"As u can understand, these are joined slabs as the dam was being constructed and this was and has been a progressive action, in this particular area."

The Department said all precautionary stability checks were done during the design stage of the major maintenance work that is currently taking place at that dam.

"The assessment shows that the upstream slopes are still stable, and meet the minimum required factors of safety."

The Department said in further addressing the safety aspect, there is a contractor on site dealing with this.

"The Bloemhof Dam is currently at one hundred percent and an additional sixteen percent flood absorption capacity.

"We are managing actively the water levels of both the Vaal Dam and the Bloemhof Dam to ensure the water level does not exceed hundred %."

The situation is being actively monitored.

"Should there be an update of the operating procedures of the dam to respond to any impending emergency, our stakeholders will be duly informed timeously.

"We further urge members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation as this causes unnecessary panic during the heavy rains."

The Department said on Wednesday the Vaal Dam was currently sitting at 97 percent and is being monitored.

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UPDATE: Northern Cape on flood alert as water levels surge

No imminent risk of Bloemhof Dam failure, says Water Department in light of viral video