Water Minister Majodina Assures Continued Water Access During LHWP Tunnel Maintenance

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina on Tuesday reassured continued supply of water to residents affected by the shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel for maintenance.

The maintenance of the LHWP tunnel involves a complete shutdown, which started on Oct. 1. The maintenance includes general inspection and repair works to ensure the integrity and reliability of the entire water tunnel system, SA News reported.

Majodina, along with Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, will visit the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel in Clarens, Free State on Nov. 15.

At a media briefing in Pretoria, Majodina discussed the Ministry's work during its first 100 days. She said the project will ensure the tunnel continues to operate efficiently in the long term, providing water to parts of the Free State and Gauteng. The project includes inspections and repairs to ensure the water tunnel system remains safe and reliable.

The operation is being carried out by the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), which is responsible for the Delivery Tunnel North in South Africa and the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA), which handles maintenance on the transfer tunnels at the Muela Hydropower station in Lesotho.

Majodina also mentioned that the Ministry has held discussions with the two provincial governments and the affected municipalities of Nketoane, Mfube and Dihlabeng.

"Specific work has already taken place, which include the upgrading of water treatment works, upgrading of raw water pumps, construction of new water reservoirs and the drilling and equipping of boreholes," she said.

She added, "The department has established the War Room to oversee the implementation of the shutdown and communication as a tool to raise awareness and to educate the public about water security issues."

Majodina mentioned that during their first 100 days in office, the department and its agency, the TCTA, continued working on 14 major national water projects focused on ensuring a secure water supply.

These projects, worth around R100 billion, include the R42 billion second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water project, which will provide extra water to Gauteng. Another project is the R28 billion construction of a new dam and transfer tunnel on the uMkhomazi River in KwaZulu-Natal, which will supply more water to eThekwini and nearby municipalities.

Other projects include raising the wall of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape at R6.5 billion and raising the wall of the Tzaneen Dam in Limpopo for R750 million.