This, as the Department of Water and Sanitation, is expected to brief parliament on the project’s progress report. They are expected to outline plans and costs for the construction of phase 2 of the project, set to commence as early as January 9 next year. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is mainly set to help with Gauteng’s water security, as well as other regions’. According to the Water and Sanitation Department, the second phase of this project is expected to increase water supplied to South Africa from 780 million cubic metres a year to more than 1.26 billion cubic metres a year and make Lesotho more self-sustainable in electricity. The project is also expected to help with employment opportunities for both South African and Lesotho residents.

The costs for the construction for this second phase is currently projected at about R25 billion. The joint venture between South Africa and Lesotho has benefited the two countries for over three decades when the first phase began to supply South Africa with water from Katse and Mohale dams and supply Lesotho with electricity.

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