WATCH: Vaal Dam opens sluices

The Vaal Dam’s operators opened the sluice gates for the first time in years on Sunday after torrential summer rains pushed capacity at the dam close to the 100% mark. The dam was at around 95% on Saturday.

Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane was addressing the media at the event, where she said that she hoped South Africans would continue to heed the lesson of responsible water use.

She thanked those in Gauteng who had adhered to the water restrictions during the drought.

Depending on how much water continues to flow into the dam would determine if and how much water gets released in the days ahead.

Photos by Zack Cronje taken at Vaaldam. @huisgenoot @peoples_weather @eNCA @eNCAWeather @OvervaalStereo @OFMNews9497 @OFMNews9497 pic.twitter.com/BSu39W99pn

— ReenvalSA (@ReenvalSA) February 26, 2017

Gauteng’s dams are now collectively above 90% full.

🌊 #Water GP has the second highest provincial dam level average in SA

👍🏽BEST
N.Cape: 104,7%
GP: 90,2%

👎🏽WORST
E.Cape: 63,4%
W.Cape: 32,8%

— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) February 26, 2017

Mokonyane said it would remain important to repair and improve the existing water infrastructure in order to deal with future drought conditions.

She also warned that there was a risk of flooding for some communities.

Minister says that there is a possible impact of flooding on the town of Douglas and the farming community downstream of the town. #VaalDam

— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) February 26, 2017

Mokonyane:As at the 25th of February, the Vaal Dam in particular, increased to 94, 86%; Grootdraai was at 103, 1% and Bloemhof was at 81, 7%

— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) February 26, 2017

Minister MOkonyane arrives at the #VaalDam for a media briefing #DamLevels pic.twitter.com/i1mSnvHMR4

— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) February 26, 2017