Zuko Komisa

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has officially marked the reopening of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Tunnel System, commending the completion of crucial maintenance work despite earlier delays.
Minister Majodina, accompanied by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, witnessed the water flow at the Ash River Outfall in Clarens on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
The LHWP tunnel system was initially closed on October 1, 2024, for a planned six-month maintenance operation. This joint effort involved the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) working on the Delivery Tunnel North within South Africa and the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) managing the Transfer and Delivery South Tunnels in Lesotho.
While maintenance work on the South African side was completed on schedule by March 19, 2025, delays in the Delivery Tunnel South in Lesotho necessitated an extension of the closure.
Minister Majodina expressed her satisfaction with the project’s completion, stating:
“The tunnel was finally refilled with water from Lesotho and water has now reached the country. We are here to witness the flow of water which will supply more than 400 million cubic meters of water annually to the Vaal Dam.”
Over 1,300 workers have been sent home and operations immediately suspended at a major construction site due to severe environmental pollution. Water Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed the drastic action, stating that the contractor is responsible for allowing effluent to flow directly from the construction zone into nearby rivers and streams.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo.
Listen to the conversation here:
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