THE flooding of the Vaal River has caused considerable crop damage along its banks in three provinces, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said yesterday.

"We have really been touched by the amount of devastation, particularly in Christiana and Bloemhof," she said.

Molewa visited Douglas in Northern Cape as well as Christiana and Bloemhof in North West and Free State to witness the effects of the flooding.

This was the second time crops in the Christiana and Bloemhof areas were flooded since heavy rains started in December.

"They were better prepared this time but they were still badly, badly affected," she said.

Molewa said municipalities were also affected. Sewerage and water supply pumps were submerged, while the road infrastructure suffered severe damages.

During meetings with farmers and communities, closer working relations were discussed with the weather office, the department's water management structures and local muni-cipal structures.

The Water Affairs Department announced plans to close sluice gates at the overflowing Vaal Dam yesterday. The Vaal is currently 110percent full and still rising to a similar situation as in 1996. Communities living near overflowing dams were cautioned to take care.

Flood warnings were issued to communities residing downstream of the Vaal Dam and the three other major dams - Bloemhof, Gariep and Vanderkloof.

Hundreds of people across the country were displaced after rain damaged property, uprooted trees, marooned farms, and destroyed crops and shacks in the past two months.