Latest news with #Swart
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
flood warnings subside with Vaal Dam levels
The handling of the Vaal Dam during the crisis period came under fire from some residents. Flood warnings along the Vaal Dam have subsided as water levels continue to drop from their peak earlier this month, bringing relief to residents who have endured months of uncertainty. The dam currently sits at 107.56%, down from 114% at the beginning of the month and 108% recorded two weeks ago. As water levels have receded, so have the fears of flooding that gripped communities along the Vaal River system during the first quarter of the year. Vaal Dam operating well below danger levels Despite the seemingly high percentage, Midvaal councillor Pieter Swart explained that the Vaal Dam is operating well below dangerous levels due to infrastructure upgrades completed decades ago. 'The Vaal Dam is at no risk of overtopping, as the 107.5% is a little misleading. In actuality, the addition of the sluices on top of the original spillway and the raising of the wall in the 80s have increased the capacity to 126%. The 126% is the new 100%. So at its current level of 107%, the dam is actually at around 85% of its actual capacity,' Swart told The Citizen. This technical explanation provides context for residents who may be concerned about water levels appearing to exceed 100% capacity. Life returns to normal despite ongoing challenges along the Vaal River While conditions have stabilised, Swart acknowledged that many residents continue to deal with the aftermath of the flooding that occurred during the dam's rapid rise from near-empty to full capacity in just over two months. 'Mostly — life has returned to normal, but this does not mean that a large amount of people have not suffered significant damage and even financial ruin. My utmost sympathy goes out to these residents,' said Swart. The councillor noted that residents with waterfront properties can now safely enjoy their facilities again, though he cautioned about the risks some have taken by building within flood zones. 'Since there is no danger at this stage, a lot of residents with water and riverfront access can safely enjoy the facilities. This, however, does not ignore the fact that a lot of infrastructure was built against recommendations — and sometimes even unlawfully — within the flood lines. This is a calculated risk the owners have taken upon themselves,' he explained. ALSO READ: Majodina reviews report on illegal Middle Letaba Dam blockages Defence of Vaal Dam management amid criticism The management of the Vaal Dam during the crisis period drew criticism from some residents, but Swart defended the Department of Water and Sanitation's (DWS) handling of the situation. 'DWS managed the dam very well in my opinion. We could not have predicted that we would receive over 700mm of rain in the first 4 months of the year. 'The Dam went from 25% on New Year's Day to 100% on 7 March. They also have to make sure the dam stays as full as possible for as long as possible. Unfortunately, when large amounts come in, large amounts need to be released, and that's why flood lines exist,' he said. The rapid transformation from drought conditions to flood warnings highlighted the extreme weather patterns experienced in the region during early 2025. Municipal safety measures and communication Swart outlined the various safety measures implemented by Midvaal Local Municipality to protect residents during the crisis and ongoing monitoring efforts. 'Midvaal Local Municipality monitors the safety of residents very closely. We invest in various safety initiatives to ensure this. One example is Midvaal's Marine 1 Rescue boat, stationed at Vaal Marina fire station,' he said. Swart said the municipality has also prioritised communication with residents through multiple channels. 'We communicate relevant information regularly. Not only on the official Midvaal channels and socials, but also through ward councillors like myself and my various channels and WhatsApp groups,' Swart added. ALSO READ: Municipal water crisis 'nothing to do with bulk water supply', says minster at LHWP reopening Regional impact and future outlook While Midvaal residents have been relatively fortunate, Swart acknowledged that other areas along the Vaal River system have faced more severe challenges. 'As far as Midvaal Local Municipality goes, our residents are generally not affected to the extent as residents in places like Parys, for example. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with what measures the Free State has in place for places like Parys,' he said. Looking ahead, Swart expects water levels to continue dropping gradually during the dry winter months, with levels potentially decreasing by 1% to 2% per week. However, recent developments may help maintain higher water levels. 'Our dry winters could see a gradual drop in level of 1-2% per week. What will help significantly is the re-opening of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel, which concluded its maintenance recently and has already seen an uptick in inflows into the Vaal Dam,' he explained. ALSO READ: Vaal Dam still over 100%: Here's what level it's on today Forward-thinking water security plans The municipality is also exploring alternative water supply solutions to reduce dependence on traditional sources. Swart highlighted one innovative approach being considered. 'The DA-led Midvaal Local municipality prides itself in forward-thinking plans and solutions. One such plan is, for example, 'capturing' water released daily from Bass Lake as an alternative water supply to bolster the reliance on just Rand Water,' he said. NOW READ: Here's how many millions SA sends to Lesotho each month for water
eNCA
23-05-2025
- eNCA
SANParks clears five buffalo to be auctioned at wildlife festival
ADDO - South African National Parks has tested five buffalo in Addo Elephant National Park for diseases of concern, and all have been cleared. The buffalo will be auctioned off at the Kirkwood Wildlife Festival in late June, with the proceeds going towards conservation projects. This marks the 24th year SANParks has backed the festival. Kirkwood Wildlife Festival auctioneer, Johan Swart, says most buyers use the buffalo as breeding bulls and for hunting purposes. Swart says the festival attracts over 50 thousand visitors globally and generates R10-million in revenue.
CNBC
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNBC
Quinta Brunson isn't surprised by her success: 'I made every single move in my life so that this could happen to me'
The past few years have seen "Abbott Elementary" star and creator Quinta Brunton take home multiple Emmys, a Golden Globe and even a Peabody award. But the 35-year-old comedy star isn't surprised by her success. On a recent appearance on "Good Hang with Amy Poehler," Brunson said that if you asked her 10 years ago what she would say if she knew how many accomplishments she had ahead of her, she would probably think everything was going exactly according to plan. "I think 2014 me would be like, 'Exactly. Period,'" she said with a laugh. "I was a very determined, knew-where-I-was-going girl," she continued. "I don't like to do that thing where people pretend 'I had no idea this could happen to me.' Like, no. I made every single move in my life so that this could happen to me." Brunson — who worked at an Apple Store in order to build up enough savings to move to Los Angeles, where she would go on to create viral comic videos and land a job at BuzzFeed — said that leaving her hometown of Philadelphia was part of the strategy she laid out to achieve her success. She explained that she is "a big believer" in having a vision for your life that you can work toward. "I think 2014 me didn't exactly know [all of this would happen], but I think that's the beauty of vision," she said. "You can feel, see something, you're working in accordance with something." Indeed, Brunson's approach is in line with that of successful executives and businesspeople. Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and executive coach, told CNBC Make It in 2019 that using tools such as vision boards can help rewire your brain to help you achieve your goals. Laying out a vision for yourself, she said, can prime your brain to seize on opportunities that you might otherwise not have noticed. Swart explained using a board to help visualize what your life will look like if your goals are achieved can help you make better decisions and be more willing to take action towards making your dreams a reality. By visualizing your goals and understanding what you need to do to achieve them, she said, you can reduce your body's stress response when the time comes to actually do the work. "The process reduces the [physiological] fear response to any new situation or person, making you more likely to take healthy risks, collaborate and embrace opportunity," Swart said. For Brunson's part, while she couldn't have controlled all the circumstances that led to "Abbott Elementary" becoming a smash hit, she doesn't attribute any of the success to luck. "I don't call myself lucky because I think about all the things that go into it," she said. "But I do think you have to think about so many different factors to make your show a success at all now."
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Fourth sluice gate reopened at Vaal Dam
As of Thursday, the Vaal Dam water levels exceed 111%. Two sluice gates will be opened on Thursday. Water management authorities have implemented a structured release schedule to manage the rising water levels. Picture; Nigel Sibanda The Vaal Dam has seen a significant rise in water levels, increasing by 3.82 percentage points overnight to reach 111.64% capacity. In response to the rising levels, authorities opened a fourth sluice gate at 10am on Thursday, with plans to open a fifth gate later in the day. Current Vaal Dam levels According to The Reservoir's latest report, the Vaal Dam is currently experiencing high water inflow at 1 332.4m³/s with an outflow of 461.1m³/s. This outflow figure is still to be confirmed. The dam started Thursday with three gates open and no river valves in operation. At 10am, one more sluice gate was opened due to the increased inflow. The nearby Vaal Barrage is maintaining a level of 7.6m with an outflow of 1 094.4m³/s and a water temperature of 18.1°C. ALSO READ: Gauteng residents warned to brace for more severe weather Vaal Dam water scheduled releases Water management authorities have implemented a structured release schedule to manage the rising water levels. The Reservoir reported that a fourth sluice gate was opened at 10am, with a fifth gate scheduled to open at 16am on Thursday. Downstream at Bloemhof Dam, outflows are being systematically increased throughout the day. The schedule includes increases to 1 050m³/s at 9am, 1 300m³/s at 11am, 1 550m³/s at 1pm and finally reaching 1 800m³/s by 3pm. ALSO READ: Heavy downpours are a threat to crops Vaal Dam rising water levels Wednesday's data showed the Vaal Dam at 107.82% with significantly lower inflow of 215.8m³/s and outflow at 299.6m³/s, with only two gates open. The dramatic overnight increase in water levels follows months of heavy rainfall since March. Tourism impact despite flood concerns The high water levels have caused some concern among residents and potential visitors to the area. The department of water and sanitation previously advised residents near the dam to evacuate their properties as a safety precaution, leading to speculation about negative impacts on Easter weekend tourism. ALSO READ: Government won't compensate residents near dams for flood damage, says Majodina Despite these concerns, Midvaal councillor Pieter Swart indicated that tourism in the area remained strong during the holiday period. 'Vaal Marina businesses experienced a very successful Easter weekend. I have not yet received word of businesses on the river to suggest otherwise,' Swart said. When asked about statistics on cancellations and support measures for affected businesses, Swart noted that no specific data was available, but standard cancellation policies would apply regardless of the cause. Infrastructure and safety measures Addressing concerns about infrastructure and safety, Swart emphasised existing regulations for property development near the dam. 'Authorities have regulations in place in terms of building lines (one in 50 year flood line, one in 100 year flood line etc). These should be adhered to by property owners and risk assessments taken into account,' he said. Swart also reminded the public of the dam's primary function, stating: 'It's important to remember that the Vaal Dam's main purpose is water storage and it will be managed as such.' NOW READ: Weather alert: Wet conditions across the country and possible snowfall in KZN
