Lesotho: Is Construction At the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Polluting Rivers?

What the report says

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) says it will send evidence of suspected pollution near a Lesotho Highlands Water Project construction site for inspection and testing, after residents in Mokhotlong reported foamy water in the Sekoai River. The concern centers on work linked to Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture, the contractor building the Polihali transfer tunnel under Phase 2 of the cross-border water project between Lesotho and South Africa.

According to the GroundUp report syndicated by AllAfrica, the site has previously faced environmental compliance problems. In 2025, the contractor was suspended for 18 days after wastewater containing oil and acid was allegedly discharged into nearby rivers and the Katse reservoir, which supplies drinking water to South Africa. The report says the suspension affected about 1,400 workers, and that the contractor later resumed work after upgrades and further review.

GroundUp says it observed wastewater flowing from a tunnel access area in August, and residents later described foamy water in the river in September. The LHDA said the discharge point seen by reporters is part of the approved treatment system and that no inspection or testing had yet been completed on the new complaint. It added that, if non-compliant effluent is found, discharge would be stopped and corrective steps required.

The issue matters because the river system is close to the project site and the Katse reservoir is a key water source in the region. The report also notes that South Africa’s water ministry had previously raised concerns about wastewater compliance on the project.