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Vaal River

The Vaal River is a major watercourse in South Africa and one of the country's most important rivers for water supply and economic activity. It rises in the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga and flows westward for approximately 1 120 km through Gauteng, the Free State and the Northern Cape before joining the Orange River near Douglas. The river forms part of the border between Gauteng and the Free State, and between the Free State and the Northern Cape. The Vaal is the largest tributary of the Orange River, southern Africa's longest river system. The river and its catchment area supply water to South Africa's industrial and economic heartland, including the Gauteng metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and the Vaal Triangle industrial complex. Major dams along the Vaal include the Vaal Dam, Bloemhof Dam and Vaal River Barrage Reservoir, which together provide water to millions of people and support agriculture, mining and industry. Rand Water, one of the world's largest bulk water utilities, draws heavily from the Vaal system to supply Gauteng. The river faces significant environmental pressures, including pollution from mining, industrial discharge, sewage and invasive alien plants that affect water quality and flow. The Department of Water and Sanitation oversees management of the Vaal system, which remains critical to South Africa's water security and economic stability.

Vaal River Updates


LEGACY ISSUE Acid mine drainage, particularly in Gauteng, is a long-standing issue, following the post-boom closure of underground gold mines during the twentieth century
Sustainable long-term AMD solutions floated
1st May 2026 By: Keabetswe Shilakwe

With a State-led long-term solution to treating acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Eastern and Central basins of the greater Witwatersrand Goldfields being provisionally deferred to 2040,... 


Rand Water turns the tide on invasive plants in Vaal River Barrage Reservoir
27th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Bulk water supplier Rand Water’s adaptive integrated management strategy is proving successful as it drives down the proliferation of aquatic invasive alien plants (IAPs), such as Pistia... 


Magazine cover image
Strengthening South Africa’s water sector starts with stabilising its infrastructure
27th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

As South Africa’s water sector continues to deteriorate, strengthening asset management, infrastructure maintenance and institutional reform will be critical, while tackling high levels of... 


The Northern Cape is highlighting the many opportunities it offers investors
24th March 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

A high-ranking delegation from the Northern Cape provincial government recently highlighted investment opportunities in the province. The delegation was led by Premier Dr Zamani Saul, and included... 


Rand Water’s adaptive integrated management strategy proving successful against invasive plants
13th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Bulk water supplier Rand Water’s adaptive integrated management strategy is proving successful as it drives down the proliferation of aquatic invasive alien plants (IAP), such as Pistia stratiotes,... 


The Vaal dam
Rand Water abstraction volumes slightly above DWS's temporarily boosted allocation
26th February 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Rand Water on Thursday said it is currently abstracting slightly above its new allocation provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) of an additional 200 Mℓ/d. Earlier this month, the... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa
Mixed political reactions to water crisis committee announced during SoNA
13th February 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Political parties expressed mixed reactions to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, criticising the announcement of the National Water Crisis Committee. On Thursday, Ramaphosa... 


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