Maseru: Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is leading a South African delegation to Lesotho for an oversight visit to assess progress on Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The visit, which spans the weekend, aims to evaluate the development of key infrastructure sites critical to the project.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister is accompanied by Deputy Minister David Mahobo and Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Seiso Mohai. The delegation is set to meet with Lesotho’s Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, and other representatives from the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission and the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), the project’s implementing agency.
During the two-day visit, which begins on Saturday, 14 December 2025, the team will inspect key project infrastructure, including the Polihali Dam construction site, the Katse Dam Outfall Tunnel system, and the Senqu Bridge. These inspections are part of ongoi
ng bilateral consultations aimed at discussing project progress and ensuring the initiative’s continued success.
The LHWP is a pivotal project for strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and Lesotho, fostering development and economic prosperity. The project involves constructing a network of tunnels and dams to transfer water from the Orange-Senqu River in the Lesotho highlands to South Africa, while also generating hydro-electric power for Lesotho.
Phase II of the project includes constructing a 165-metre-high concrete-faced rockfill dam at Polihali and a 38-kilometre concrete-lined gravity tunnel linking the Polihali and Katse reservoirs. Once completed, Phase II will increase the annual water transfer from Lesotho to South Africa by 490 million cubic metres, raising total transfers to 1260 million cubic metres per year. This additional water will integrate into South Africa’s Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS).
The IVRS is crucial for supplying water to Gauteng, South Africa’s economic
hub, and comprises 14 dams across four provinces: Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and North West. The Polihali dam will become the 15th dam in this system, enhancing water security for the region.
Earlier this month, water ministers from the four Orange-Senqu River Basin states reinforced their commitment to safeguarding the river basin, highlighting its strategic importance for regional water security, climate resilience, economic development, and ecological sustainability.
The oversight visit is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, 15 December 2025.