South Africa and Lesotho have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of cooperation on the proposed construction of two weirs on the Mohokare/Caledon river and to ensure efficient management and sustainable development of the water resources.

The framework of cooperation, signed by South African Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and Lesotho Natural Resources Minister Mohlomi Moleko, will enable access for Lesotho to the South African side of the river to construct two weirs under its Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture (MDIH) project for the development of irrigation infrastructure on identified irrigatable sites along the Mohokare river.

The Mohokare river forms a large part of Lesotho’s north- western border with South Africa, starting in the Maloti Mountains of northern Lesotho, and becoming the Caledon river as it continues through the Free State province in South Africa.

The weirs, construction of which will run across the river to South Africa, will allow for water storage to provide Lesotho with year-round irrigation water, even during the dry seasons, when water levels in the river are typically low.

The Lesotho MDIH schemes require about 6.35 million cubic metres of additional water a year (m3/y), but this could increase to 9.79-million m3/y in a dry year.

For South Africa, construction of the abstraction weirs will assist in reducing sedimentation, a major concern in the Caledon river.

The weirs will also be used for water quantity measurement as well as for flood tracing on the Caledon river.

The parties signed the MoU during the second session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Maseru, Lesotho, with Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa presiding.

The BNC aims to foster strong political relations between the two countries; deepen economic cooperation, taking into consideration regional value chains; review the implementation of the outcomes of the BNC’s inaugural session held two years ago; and agree on newly identified priority areas for mutual benefit.

A joint communique, published on April 23, highlighted the success of the inaugural session of the BNC, hosted by South Africa on September 28, 2023, during which the two countries adopted 78 resolutions to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

During the second session, the two countries reaffirmed the BNC as a strategic forum for strengthening the coordination and implementation of the bilateral relations programme, with the heads of State and government expressing satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations between Lesotho and South Africa.

The leaders noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, 48 agreements had been signed, with an additional six agreements signed during the second session of the commission.

In addition to the MoU relating to the establishment of the framework for the Mohokare/Caledon river, the parties signed various agreements, including MoUs on economic and defence cooperation, as well as on cooperation in the fields of higher education and training, basic education, and social development.

The two governments further expressed satisfaction at the existing cooperation in the fields of water and energy, emphasising the significance of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project as a sustainable source of water for both countries and a catalyst for economic and infrastructure development.

While the second phase of the project was welcomed, there remains a need for its timeous execution within the allocated resources.

The two leaders further expressed commitment to cooperating in renewable energy by developing renewable-energy resources to attain security of electricity supply and to mitigate climate change effects.