Mpumalanga: The Department of Water and Sanitation has issued a dam safety directive to address serious and ongoing safety risks at My Own Dam, publicly known as Senteeko Dam, in Mpumalanga. The directive, served to the Shamile Communal Property Association (CPA), the dam’s owner, compels immediate action to stabilize the dam and prevent further deterioration to protect lives, livelihoods, and property downstream.

According to South African Government News Agency, the directive was issued under Section 118 of the National Water Act and follows a series of technical assessments which confirmed the dam’s compromised and partially failed condition. Without urgent remedial action, further deterioration is likely, posing an unacceptable level of risk that cannot be adequately managed through monitoring alone.

The department emphasized its decisive action to ensure the dam owner fulfills their legal obligations to maintain the dam’s safety. It warned that continued deterioration presents a direct threat to downstream farming communities, including potential loss of life and damage to homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure. These risks are particularly heightened during periods of rainfall.

Engineers have avoided lowering water levels too rapidly to prevent triggering further structural failure of the compromised dam wall. The dam owner’s Appointed Professional Engineer (APP) has been instructed to urgently assess the dam’s condition and determine necessary remedial measures. These determinations must be completed within seven days from the directive’s date and submitted to the department’s Dam Safety Office for review and approval.

Once approved, the department will require the dam owner to commence urgent repair works, under the supervision of the APP, until the dam no longer poses an unacceptable risk. Required engineering designs and technical submissions must be received by 13 February 2026, in strict adherence to the directive’s timeline. Non-compliance will result in further enforcement action.

The department assures that it will prioritize regulatory approvals to ensure corrective work proceeds without delay, emphasizing that protecting human life, property, and livelihoods downstream of the Senteeko Dam remains its foremost concern. Continuous monitoring and updates will be provided as developments occur.