South African Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, has concluded a high-level oversight tour of the Polihali Dam construction site in Lesotho, a critical component of the multi-billion-rand Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The visit, aimed at assessing progress on the beleaguered project, confirmed significant delays and financial pressures but concluded with a firm commitment from both nations for intensified joint monitoring.
The inspection revealed the second phase of the project is facing a 90-day delay attributed to technical construction challenges and rapid financial escalations. Minister Majodina acknowledged the setbacks but expressed cautious optimism after viewing the site firsthand.
“I am quite happy so far with the progress that has been made,” stated Minister Majodina. “However, we have delays… There must be a turnaround time. How do we then compensate the 90 days that we are behind?”
The Minister emphasized the extreme financial sensitivity of the project, highlighting the urgent need to contain costs within the established budget. “This project is quite costly. So the 53 billion [rand] we must not go beyond,” she added.
A key outcome of the visit was the establishment of a new, hands-on oversight framework. Minister Majodina pledged to return to the site on a quarterly basis to monitor progress directly, provide “moral support” to the workforce, and work with contractors to develop a recovery plan.
This commitment was welcomed by Lesotho’s counterparts. The Lesotho Minister of Natural Resources, who was present on the tour, stressed the project’s paramount importance to the entire region. “This project drives the biggest economic hub in Africa, which is the Gauteng region. Hence I say this is one of the most important projects that we have,” he said. He expressed his satisfaction with the new quarterly monitoring plan, noting it is essential to ensure timely execution and control potential cost overruns.
Despite the admitted challenges, officials from both nations praised the strong collaborative spirit and the advanced engineering efforts on the ground, which Minister Majodina described as “out of this world.”
The tour concluded with a unified resolve from the project management and principals of both nations to aggressively tackle the delays, cap escalating costs, and steer the strategic project toward completion within a reasonable timeframe. Before departing, Minister Majodina took time to connect with the labourers on site, underscoring the human element behind the massive infrastructure endeavour.
About the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP):
The LHWP is a multi-phase binational project between Lesotho and South Africa designed to transfer water from the mountains of Lesotho to South Africa, primarily servicing the Gauteng region, and to generate hydroelectric power for Lesotho. The Polihali Dam is a cornerstone of the ongoing Phase II.