Minister Pemmy Majodina and her Lesotho counterpart to officially open two newly completed bridges this week as part quarterly oversight to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina is in Lesotho on 11-13 September 2026 on a working visit to conduct her quarterly oversight to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 (LHWP2) which is currently under construction in the kingdom’s highlands.
Together with her Lesotho counterpart, Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Mohlomi Moleko, Minister Majodina will tomorrow, Thursday, 11 September 2026, unveil the newly completed Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges in Mokhotlong District, following the recent completion of the iconic 90 metres high Senqu Bridge this year.
The launch will be followed by an oversight visit to the Polihali Dam construction site on the same day, and the Polihali-Katse Water Transfer Tunnel and resettlements sites of relocated communities on Saturday, to assess progress on the work currently underway and conclude the visit with a bilateral meeting on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
Minister Majodina is accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Mr Seiso Mohai and delegation from the Department of Water and Sanitation
The two bridges, to be officially opened at Mabunyaneng Bridge site, in Mapholaneng, are a delivery benefit of direct, lasting value to the communities of Mokhotlong and part of the restoration infrastructure of the project to ensure continuous access across the future Polihali Dam, as the two existing low-lying crossings on this route will be submerged when the reservoir is impounded
The Khubelu Bridge, the second largest of the three bridges, features an impressive 270-metre-long curved deck comprising nine 30-metre spans, supported by eight piers and two abutments. Rising approximately 25 metres above the valley floor, the structure is carried by sixty-three 52-ton precast beams, each measuring 30 metres in length. The Mabunyaneng Bridge spans 120 metres across the valley and consists of four 30-metre spans supported by three piers and twenty-eight precast beams, standing approximately 12 metres above the valley floor.
Together with the Senqu Bridge, these landmark structures will provide safe, reliable and uninterrupted access to the A1 Road between Mokhotlong and Maseru, ensuring year-round connectivity even when the Polihali reservoir reaches full supply. Designed to accommodate two-way vehicular traffic and pedestrians, the bridges represent critical infrastructure that will serve surrounding communities for generations while supporting the long-term operation and sustainability of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
The launch ceremony marks more than the unveiling of two remarkable bridges; it celebrates human ingenuity, engineering excellence, and the shared vision that continues to strengthen the enduring partnership between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. It also recognises the dedication of the many individuals, institutions and communities whose collective efforts made this milestone possible
Over the past months, the LHWP2 has been making significant progress, advancing towards excess water storage reserve of 490 million cubic of water per annum, to secure water future for South Africa’s economic hub, Gauteng Province.
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 060 561 8935/ mavasaw@dws.gov.za
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