the devastating April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal, two of the ten Hydroplus fuse gates at Shongweni Dam (on the uMlazi River west of Pinetown/Durban) tipped and failed as designed. These gates act as a safety mechanism: they automatically “pop” or tip in sequence during extreme floods to release water incrementally and prevent catastrophic failure of the main dam wall.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) quickly clarified that the dam wall itself did not collapse (contrary to some viral videos and panic at the time). The system functioned as intended for an extreme event, though it did reduce the dam’s storage capacity until the gates could be restored.
Repair Status
Public records and recent updates (as of 2025–2026) show no confirmation that the two lost fuse gates have been replaced or fully restored.
- In 2022, officials noted that replacement would be needed and acknowledged the temporary reduction in capacity.
- Some local discussions (e.g., on community groups) and a 2025 Instagram post echoing your point have suggested the gates remain unrepaired.
- No official DWS or eThekwini announcements confirm reinstallation. An AECOM investigation (linked to Toyota funding) looked into the tipping event, but no follow-up on physical repairs appears in public sources.
The dam continues to appear in current water level reports and is treated as operational (with data from the Department of Water and Sanitation’s monitoring systems), though its effective storage may still be impacted by the missing gates. Recent dam level trackers for KZN don’t flag it as out of service, but they focus more on overall percentages than specific structural details.
Fuse gates are specialized (prefabricated units from Hydroplus), so replacement involves engineering, fabrication, and installation—not a simple fix. Delays could stem from funding, procurement, or prioritizing other post-2022 flood infrastructure (roads, pipelines, etc.) in the region, which has seen ongoing repairs into 2026.
If you’re a local resident or concerned about safety/recreation at the dam, the best step is to contact the Department of Water and Sanitation (KZN regional office) or eThekwini Municipality directly for the latest official status—they manage dam safety. You could also check the latest verified dam levels on sites like afriwx.co.za or the DWS hydrology portal.
The 2022 floods were catastrophic overall, and Shongweni’s fuse gates likely helped avert worse downstream damage along the uMlazi River. That said, prolonged non-repair of safety features like this is worth following up on for long-term resilience, especially with climate-driven heavy rainfall risks in KZN. If you have more details or photos from a recent visit, that could help narrow it down further.
