Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, will lead South Africa’s delegation to the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) Climate Resilient Investment Conference, set to take place at the Avani Maseru Hotel in Lesotho.
This high-level conference is regarded as a vital platform for advancing water infrastructure initiatives that contribute to socio-economic development, enhance water access and quality, and foster climate resilience across Southern Africa. It aims to bring together government representatives, private investors, international financial institutions, and water sector experts to engage in meaningful dialogue and forge strategic partnerships that can unlock funding for priority projects in the region.
ORASECOM, established in November 2000, serves as the custodian of one of the largest river systems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Orange-Senqu River Basin, which covers approximately one million square kilometres, spans the entirety of Lesotho and large portions of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. The commission was created to facilitate integrated development and management of the shared water resources within this transboundary basin.
Scheduled for Thursday, the conference will focus on promoting the implementation of the Climate Resilient Investment Plan, a strategic roadmap that identifies priority infrastructure projects aimed at ensuring long-term water security and sustainable development. Through collaborative efforts, the basin states have developed an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, which informed the current investment strategy.
Among the 36 priority projects identified are several transboundary initiatives that are critical to the basin’s resilience. These include the Orange River Project and Noordoewer-Vioolsdrift intervention, the proposed Lesotho to Botswana Water Transfer Scheme, and various water transfer systems to and within the Greater Bloemfontein area, including the Caledon and Gariep River systems.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department of Water and Sanitation emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and South Africa’s commitment to the ORASECOM partnership. The government noted that the conference is being hosted in collaboration with the Kingdom of Lesotho’s Ministry of Natural Resources, along with the four basin states—Lesotho, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.
Deputy Minister Seitlholo underscored the shared responsibility in addressing water challenges that transcend national borders. “Water knows no borders, and neither should our cooperation,” he said. “The ORASECOM Investment Conference is more than a funding event—it is a reaffirmation of our shared vision for sustainable development and regional integration.”
He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the commission’s mission, expressing hope that the conference would strengthen regional partnerships and accelerate efforts to secure water access for future generations across the basin.
