Category: MIL-OSI

By David Jacobs

As South Africa confronts long-term water security challenges, few projects illustrate the power of regional cooperation as clearly as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Rooted in a treaty signed between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1986, the LHWP stands as a flagship example of how shared natural resources can be harnessed for mutual benefit.

The project was conceived to secure reliable, high-quality water for South Africa—particularly Gauteng, the country’s economic heartland—while enabling Lesotho to generate hydropower, develop infrastructure, and unlock socio-economic opportunities. Importantly, the LHWP is not a unilateral intervention. It is a binational partnership, governed through shared institutions and implemented in phases to respond to growing demand and long-term sustainability.

Phase I of the project is already delivering 780 million cubic metres of water annually to South Africa through gravity-fed transfers that reduce energy costs and strengthen national water resilience. At the same time, Lesotho benefits from hydropower generation at the ’Muela Hydropower Station, infrastructure development, skills transfer, job creation and long-term royalties linked to water transfers.

Phase II deepens this cooperation. It includes the construction of the Polihali Dam and the Polihali–Katse Transfer Tunnel, which will increase water transfer volumes to 1 270 million cubic metres per annum. Enabling infrastructure such as the newly completed Senqu Bridge ensures uninterrupted access and connectivity for communities once the Polihali Reservoir is impounded, while also supporting economic participation and skills development.

Beyond water and energy, the LHWP demonstrates how regional partnerships—grounded in strong governance, fairness and shared responsibility—can deliver lasting development outcomes. As the project marks four decades of cooperation, it reminds us that sustainable solutions to complex challenges are achieved not in isolation, but through collaboration, trust and a shared vision for the future.

*David Jacobs is Chief Director: Cluster Communication and Stakeholder Management at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has called for an action-driven and adequately funded adaptation and mitigation agenda to help developing economies tackle the climate crisis.

The Minister made these remarks while participating in the 17th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany, which is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The Dialogue will offer South Africa a key platform to strengthen its commitment to climate action, promote fair solutions tailored to the distinct challenges of developing countries, and enhance global cooperation,” he said in a statement.

The event brings together high-level representatives from about 40 countries to discuss concrete steps to address the climate crisis and rebuild confidence in multilateral climate negotiations.

Discussions are focused on three key areas: mitigation — including efforts to close the gap to 1.5°C; climate finance and investment, particularly the implementation of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for adaptation finance; and strengthening the multilateral climate regime to accelerate implementation.

These engagements are expected to help countries demonstrate balance and credibility by integrating adaptation action and finance into preparations for COP31 and the anticipated African COP32 next year.

The annual high-level conference serves as a bridge between successive United Nations climate conferences and focuses on advancing international cooperation and accelerating the transition to climate-neutral economies.

“For South Africa, the extent to which Parties successfully implement the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake will be judged by both the full execution of their Nationally Determined Contributions and the availability of financing to support mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries,” Aucamp said.

The Dialogue was established in 2010 by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to help pave the way for negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

COP31 will be held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, with a focus on advancing green industrialisation, accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels, and finalising 2035 emission reduction targets.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue Ministerial meeting provides an informal yet strategic platform for countries to deliberate on key issues under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including the Global Goal on Adaptation, mitigation ambition, loss and damage, and the provision of international climate finance. – SAnews.gov.za

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Mokhotlong, Lesotho – Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has reaffirmed government’s commitment to long-term water security and infrastructure delivery, following an oversight visit to the Polihali Dam construction site and the Polihali Transfer Tunnel, where she toured the tunnel works following the launch of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). 

The visit formed part of activities linked to Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a strategic bi-national initiative between South Africa and Lesotho aimed at augmenting water supply to the Gauteng region, while supporting hydropower generation in Lesotho.

Following the official TBM launch on Monday, Majodina conducted a site inspection at the Polihali Dam construction site, where she assessed construction progress and later descended into the tunnel, offering a rare, close-up view of the large-scale engineering work underway deep beneath the Maluti mountains.

Speaking to SAnews during the oversight visit, Majodina detailed the extent of work already completed and the progress made since her last visit in December 2025. 

She explained that her visit began with an inspection of supporting infrastructure, including the visitor centre and water systems that channel flow toward the reservoir and tunnel.

The Minister said these components are key to ensuring that water can be efficiently directed into the transfer system.

“I started at the visitors’ centre, where we developed some chalets for people who come to explore the mountains. Those chalets are done and dusted. When you are in those chalets, you are able to see where water comes from as it goes down to the wall of the Katse River… We’ve also launched the Polihali Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)… with a very big milestone, which is 38.5 kilometers,” the Minister told SAnews. 

She highlighted that the TBM is central to linking the Polihali and Katse Dam reservoirs, enabling the transfer of water through a gravity-fed system.

“When we were here in December, the machine on the side of Polihali was still going to be assembled, but the other side was done already. So you can’t transfer water through the tunnel if the two have not been joined together. 

“That is why I was saying this is an umbilical cord, which joins two countries, two nations. What is more important is we are increasing the capacity and the volume of water that goes to South Africa,” she told SAnews.

The Minister also addressed concerns about water supply challenges in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng. She emphasised that the water that government is trying to secure is in acknowledgement of the rapid expansion taking place in the province.

“…There’s economic growth, there’s population growth. You need more water. But the fundamental question in South Africa, across 257 municipalities and eight metros is the lack of maintenance and operation of water infrastructure. 

“That is why, every day, you’ll find water running down the street, instead of going to the tap. We don’t have a water crisis in terms of water resources. The water that we’re getting at the moment from Katse Dam is enough for us as South Africans, but we felt that we must make sure that we have water for the coming generations,” Majodina said. 

The Minister said the project goes beyond water delivery, pointing to wider development, including bridges, roads, schools, clinics and housing relocation programmes aimed at improving livelihoods in surrounding communities.

“That is why we’ll be here with the President and His Majesty the Prime Minister on Wednesday to hand over the Senqu Bridge – the most state-of-the-art bridge in the entire continent. There are human settlement relocation projects, some of which are [complete]… There’s lot of development that is happening here,” the Minister said.

Majodina further clarified the financial arrangements underpinning the project and community benefits.

She explained that South Africa pays royalties to the Lesotho government under a formal agreement, with funds distributed through the National Fiscus, which get distributed accordingly. She noted that only a small number of compensation cases remain outstanding and are being verified.

On progress, the Minister indicated that construction has advanced steadily, despite earlier delays.

“When I was here on 15 December 2025, they were standing at 53%. They are now standing at 58%. It therefore means there’s lot of work that has been done. Excavation takes long. Inclement weather also plays to the fore, but there’s lot of commitment. They work in shifts, and we are happy with what we are seeing,” the Minister said. 

She reaffirmed that both governments remain committed to completing the project on time and within budget. 

“There’s catch-up time to ensure that we complete the project on time and on budget. We go out to financial markets to get these funds through the TCTA [Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority]… We have to complete this Phase II,” the Minister said. 

Beyond water supply, the project is also expected to support agriculture and regional resilience. 

“There is water that we will reserve through Mohokare River. When there is a drought in the Free State [or] the Eastern Cape, we [will] release that water for irrigation and for farmers. So, it’s not all water that is going to Gauteng, but that water will also assist with irrigation,” the Minister explained. 

She emphasised that the project continues to benefit communities in Lesotho through employment, skills transfer and infrastructure development.

“The lives of Basotho people have changed. They might not have changed completely, but we have done our best in ensuring that as we implement this project, there is skills transfer and there are those who are mentored by the contractor, so that when we are no longer here on this project, they can maintain this project, because anything that is not maintained is going to collapse,” Majodina said. 

The Polihali Transfer Tunnel, a key component of Phase II, will ultimately increase water transfer to South Africa, while strengthening hydropower capacity in Lesotho, reinforcing one of the continent’s most significant examples of cross-border infrastructure cooperation. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called for stronger, more accountable public leadership to drive gender equality, describing it as “a matter of life and death”, rather than a policy formality.

Speaking at the Public Leadership for Gender Equality (PL4GE) in South Africa dialogue, held at Riviera Lane in Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, Chikunga emphasised that the gap between government commitments and real impact on women’s lives remains a critical challenge.

“Public leadership determines whether policies remain words on paper or become real change in people’s lives. It shapes how budgets are allocated, how services are delivered, and how accountability is enforced,” Chikunga said.

Hosted by the Global Center for Gender Equality and supported by the Gates Foundation, the dialogue marked the start of an engagement focused on advancing inclusive leadership and gender equality. It highlighted the need to strengthen public leadership for gender-responsive governance, and to accelerate efforts to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Chikunga said leadership must move beyond rhetoric, highlighting the importance of integrating gender considerations into everyday decision-making processes, such as budgeting, infrastructure planning and service delivery.

She said leadership courage looks like a Director-General, who insists that every budget submission in their department is accompanied by a gender impact assessment.

“Leadership courage looks like a provincial head of department, who refuses to sign off on an infrastructure programme that has not considered the safety and accessibility needs of women and girls with disabilities.

“It looks like a municipal manager, who ensures that community consultations do not only happen in boardrooms during working hours but in spaces and at times where the women, who are most affected, can actually participate,” the Minister said.

The Minister also noted alarming findings from the South African National Gender-Based Violence Prevalence Study, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which revealed that more than a third of South African women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, underlining the urgency of decisive leadership.

She also emphasised the need for intersectional approaches, noting that women with disabilities face significantly higher rates of violence.

Chikunga said programmes, such as the Public Leadership for Gender Equality initiative, are critical in transforming institutions and redistributing power more equitably within the public sector.

“Gender equality is not optional for public institutions. It is part of the core business of the State,” she said.

The workshop forms part of broader government efforts aligned with the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, which identifies gender-based violence as a national crisis.

Chikunga urged participants to translate lessons from the workshop into tangible actions within their departments.

“The test is not what happens in this room, [but] what happens when you return to your desks,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has linked South Africa’s ongoing struggle for gender equality to key historical milestones, underscoring the role of leadership in advancing social justice.

Chikunga made the remarks during her keynote address at a dialogue on Public Leadership for Gender Equality on Tuesday.

The event takes place in a significant year for the country, marking 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, 50 years since the Soweto Uprising, and 30 years since the adoption of South Africa’s democratic Constitution.

“Three milestones, three generations, one unfinished struggle,” the Minister said.

She noted that each period offers lessons on the relationship between leadership and gender equality.

“In 1956, it was ordinary women, not politicians or officials, who led. In 1976, it was young people who refused to accept a system normalised by those in power. And in 1996, constitutional architects ensured that equality was embedded into the DNA of the state,” she said.

The Minister paid tribute to struggle icons including Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie de Bruyn, as well as thousands of unnamed women who resisted both patriarchy and apartheid.

“These are the women on whose shoulders we stand today.”

Chikunga said the workshop builds on this legacy by equipping public sector leaders with tools to advance gender equality through policy implementation and institutional reform.

The programme is hosted in partnership with the Global Center for Gender Equality and supported by the Gates Foundation, with a focus on strengthening leadership capacity across government.

It introduces a framework aimed at improving accountability, data-driven decision-making and collaboration across sectors in advancing gender equality.

Chikunga said the initiative aligns with government’s mandate to promote the socio-economic empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities, in line with the National Development Plan.

She added that the partnership reflects efforts to translate global expertise into locally relevant solutions, incorporating South African case studies and policy frameworks.

The Minister noted that the dialogue comes at a time when South Africa is being called upon to deepen democracy through tangible outcomes.

“Gender equality is not a side issue or a ceremonial matter. It is a constitutional obligation, a developmental imperative, and a test of whether the democratic state is working for all its people,” the Minister said.

Despite progress, Chikunga acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly gender-based violence and economic inequality.

She reiterated that the department’s mandate is rooted in the country’s liberation history and focuses on advancing the participation and empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities through advocacy, monitoring and policy integration.

“Central to this mandate is our commitment to transform and empower vulnerable groups into catalysts for socio-economic change, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Chikunga urged participants to use the platform to develop practical interventions that will strengthen public institutions and improve outcomes for vulnerable groups.

“This is about continuing the work of those who came before us and ensuring that equality becomes a lived reality for all,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Mokhotlong, Lesotho – Strong regional cooperation between South Africa and Lesotho has emerged as a defining feature of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, with government emphasising partnership as key to unlocking long-term water and economic security. 

This comes as Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, along with Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, conducted an oversight visit to the Polihali project site following the launch of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Polihali, in the Kingdom of Lesotho, on Monday. 

The dam construction site and tunnel, both located in the mountainous district of Mokhotlong, form part of a large-scale infrastructure programme aimed at boosting water supply to Gauteng while supporting hydropower generation in Lesotho.

Speaking to SAnews, Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said the project reflects strengthened governance and renewed cooperation between the two countries after years of delays.

He said the leadership of both ministers has helped stabilise the project, which had been delayed for nearly a decade, and placed it firmly back on track toward its 2028/29 water delivery target for South Africa. 

Mahlobo highlighted regional collaboration as one of the project’s most significant outcomes and strengths, noting that shared water resources in Southern Africa are being used to promote peace and development rather than conflict. 

He told SAnews that, unlike other parts of the world where water scarcity often leads to tensions, countries in the Southern African region are working together to ensure mutual benefit, with water serving as a tool for cooperation and shared growth.

“In other parts of the world, there is a bigger issue about shared water causes, and there are issues of conflict, and normally, women and children in other parts where there is conflict, water is being weaponised. But in this part of our region, SADC [Southern African Development Community], water is used for peace. Water is used for shared development,” the Deputy Minister said. 

The Deputy Minister also pointed to the high level of engineering expertise involved in the project, describing it as a blend of South African, Basotho and international skills working in coordination under challenging mountainous conditions.

He said the scale and complexity of the tunnel stretching over 38 km underground demonstrate advanced engineering capability, with a diameter wide enough to accommodate large machinery and vehicles. 

“The second component that we can look at is the quality of engineers that we have brought here, a number of the engineers are South African engineers, others are from here (Lesotho), there is cross pollination from international partners if you look at the contractors. 

“You look at the kind of work that is being done on the terrain and the machinery that is here, it is a very complex kind of engineering that is used to go underground for a longer period of time,” Mahlobo told SANews. 

Mahlobo further noted that the dam’s design incorporates flood management systems, including an off-channel spillway to manage excess water during periods of heavy rainfall, particularly in winter.

He said these features reflect forward planning and resilience in infrastructure design.

According to Mahlobo, the project is not only strengthening technical cooperation but also deepening diplomatic and economic ties between South Africa and Lesotho.

He said the partnership led by the two ministers and supported at the highest political level by President Cyril Ramaphosa, His Majesty King Letsie III, and Lesotho’s Prime Minister is elevating relations between the two nations.

Once completed, the Polihali Transfer Tunnel will significantly increase water transfer capacity to South Africa while boosting hydropower generation in Lesotho, reinforcing a model of regional integration built on shared resources and shared prosperity. – SAnews.gov.za 

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