South Africa and Botswana will sign a Memorandum of Agreement on the joint management of water quality and aquatic invasive species in the Upper Limpopo River Basin, the Department of Water and Sanitation said on Thursday.
The agreement will be concluded during Minister Pemmy Majodina’s working visit to Gaborone for the 6th Session of the South Africa–Botswana Bi‑National Commission.
The two countries share several transboundary rivers in the Upper Limpopo system, where the spread of aquatic invasive species has become a growing concern for water security, biodiversity and livelihoods.
Species such as water hyacinth and other fast‑spreading plants have clogged waterways in parts of the basin in recent years, affecting irrigation, domestic supply and ecosystem health.
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As upstream states, South Africa and Botswana are under pressure to curb the spread of invasives before they affect downstream users in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The Limpopo River Basin supports an estimated 14 million people across four countries and is governed through the Limpopo Watercourse Commission, which promotes coordinated management of shared water resources.
The Upper Limpopo includes major South African catchments such as the Crocodile West, Marico, Mokolo and Mogalakwena, as well as Botswana’s Notwane, Lotsane, Motloutse, Mahalapye, Tswapong, Bonwapitse and Tuti rivers.
Majodina also attended a ministerial meeting ahead of the BNC session where discussions included progress on the joint feasibility study for the Lesotho–Botswana Water Transfer project.
The proposed 700‑kilometre pipeline would supply water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa from a planned dam on Lesotho’s Makhaleng River.
AP
