Lesotho Highlands Water Project
By Neo Mofokeng
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has expressed concern over wastewater management non-compliance by a contractor involved in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 (LHWP2), which is currently under construction in Lesotho.
This comes after reports that the contractor responsible for the construction of the Polihali Transfer Tunnel, Kopano Ke Matla (KKM), failed to adhere to regulations governing effluent discharge.
In light of this, the Department of Water and Sanitation convened an urgent meeting on Wednesday with South Africa’s delegation to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission (LHWC) and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) to receive a full briefing on the matter.
The contractor has since been suspended on-site by the implementing agency, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA).
In a statement on Thursday, the department confirmed the suspension of Kopano Ke Matla following several warnings of non-compliance issued to the contractor for polluting watercourses with raw effluent during tunnel construction.
Through its engineer, the department said LHDA had issued a targeted suspension of works to the Polihali Transfer Tunnel contractor, KKM, due to non-compliance with contractual environmental obligations, specifically regarding wastewater management.
“The suspension was prompted by persistent failures to meet treatment standards across multiple sites, despite prior warnings and formal Non-Conformance Reports emanating from concerns on the inadequate management and treatment of wastewater and effluent generated during tunnel construction activities.
“This measure was implemented to uphold environmental, health, and safety standards on a nationally and regionally significant infrastructure project and did not constitute a project-wide shutdown. Contractual enforcement of environmental obligations is standard and necessary on infrastructure projects of this scale to protect the environment, communities, and the workers,” the department explained.
Due to the suspension, the contractor was compelled to send home approximately 1,300 workers as a precautionary step to avoid further environmental risk and protect worker safety.
The department revealed that the contractor has been given until 26 May 2025 to submit a comprehensive remedial plan and compliance roadmap, with clear and measurable milestones and interim controls to address the deficiencies in wastewater treatment works.
The suspension will not impact the tunnel’s overall completion date, as the project is currently ahead of schedule.
Work continues in unaffected areas of the project, including the Polihali and Katse zones, to minimise any broader delays.
“The LHDA, whose role is to safeguard the public, the workforce, and the environment through responsible oversight of contractors and the Engineer, continues to ensure that interim containment and treatment measures are in place to avoid further environmental risk while the main upgrades are pursued,” the department said.
“The Ministry has since directed the South African delegation, TCTA, and the Department of Water and Sanitation to reinforce monitoring of the projects to ensure no further delays occur.
The LHWP Phase 2 includes the construction of an approximately 165m high Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam at Polihali, downstream of the confluence of the Khubelu and Sengu (Orange) Rivers, and a 38km long concrete-lined gravity tunnel connecting the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir.
Other Phase 2 activities include the construction of the Senqu bridge, accommodation, power lines, and telecommunication infrastructure.
The LHWP is a binational project between Lesotho and South Africa aimed at enhancing water security and hydroelectric power generatio
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