The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) recently hosted a media tour in Clarens, Free State, to mark the reopening of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnels. This follows the successful completion of a six-month maintenance operation aimed at ensuring the continued reliability of this critical water infrastructure.
The event was attended by Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms. Pemmy Majodina; Deputy Ministers Mr. David Mahlobo and Mr. Sello Seitlholo; Premier of the Free State, Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and executive mayors of local municipalities.
The water transfer from Lesotho into South Africa officially resumed at 04:20 on the morning of 23 May 2025, with water arriving at the Ash River Outfall Works in Clarens. This marks the full restoration of a vital water supply link serving both the Gauteng and Free State provinces.
The LHWP tunnel system had been closed since 1 October 2024 for comprehensive maintenance work. The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) in South Africa and the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) in Lesotho jointly oversaw the maintenance efforts.
Mr. Percy Sechemane, CEO of TCTA, explained that while the South African side of the project was completed on schedule, delays occurred on the Lesotho side due to unforeseen challenges. These included technical difficulties and adverse weather conditions, which pushed back the initial targeted reopening date.
Minister Majodina addressed the media at the Ash River Outfall Works, acknowledging the challenges faced by Lesotho. She attributed the delays to inclement weather conditions and requested an extension of three weeks to complete the necessary work.
The successful completion of the water transfer highlights the importance of cross-border infrastructure cooperation and underscores the need for continuous maintenance and coordination to safeguard Southern Africa’s water future.
