The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has issued an urgent public alert that the Senteeko Dam, officially registered as My Own Dam, is at imminent risk of failure in Mpumalanga. Residents and anyone operating downstream in flood-prone areas have been instructed to evacuate immediately as officials warn the dam could fail without further notice.

The dam is located in the Die Kaap River catchment near Barberton. DWS lists it as a 26-metre-high, medium-sized structure with an estimated storage capacity of about 1.8 million cubic metres. It is owned by the Shamile Communal Property Association (CPA) and is mainly used for irrigation.

What Engineers Found at the Spillway

DWS says an emergency safety assessment by its Dam Safety Office found the spillway structure has suffered “severe and irreversible deterioration”, including advanced erosion and undercutting that has led to structural instability. The department warned an uncontrolled release of water is likely if the structure fails, posing an immediate threat to communities, infrastructure and the environment downstream.

Officials have linked the heightened risk to recent heavy rains in the region, which have added pressure on already compromised infrastructure.

Evacuations and Emergency Work Underway

Over the weekend, an excavator was mobilised to widen an emergency side channel spillway in an effort to lower the dam’s water level. DWS has also warned the public to stay away from the site and to follow directives from disaster management teams and emergency services.

The City of Mbombela has described the situation as volatile, with spokesperson Joseph Ngala saying the dam wall is still slowly cracking. He also warned that impacts could extend beyond the immediate area, potentially feeding into downstream tributaries and river systems, including the Crocodile River system that runs towards Mozambique.

Who is Responsible and What Happens Next

Ngala said initial repair estimates run into millions and the CPA is expected to approach government for funding once the immediate danger has passed. DWS has stressed that current interventions are temporary risk-reduction steps and do not rule out partial or full failure. Further assessments are expected as engineers continue monitoring conditions on site.