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I first competed in the Roof of Africa back in 1985. I was in my early twenties and knew nothing about it. But I came second and realised this was my calling. I also discovered this three-day, 280km, cross-country motorbike race is aptly named, following treacherous mountain paths in the only independent state in the world that sits entirely above an elevation of 1,000m. Even the lowest point here in the landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho is above 1,400m – the highest lowest point of any country. But the race also has another name: “the mother of all hard enduro races”, and with good reason.
Even though the decrease in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) dam levels is marginal – a 0.3% drop from last week and an 23.6% increase from the preceding year – the Department of Water and Sanitation urged residents to use water sparingly.
Gauteng Dam levels overview
Use water sparingly
The Department calls on residents to refrain from flushing toilets “unless it is necessary to do so”, adding that this one small step “could assist to save many litres of water”.
“In the same vein, the department wishes to reiterate that when washing cars water users must refrain from using hosepipes but rather use buckets. This is especially the case for businesses such as car washes”.
weekly newspaper.
Communities living within sight of Lesotho’s two biggest dams endure a daily struggle to get safe water because the “white gold” they can see but cannot reach is destined for neighbouring South Africa.
The landlocked country has earned a total of 11.2-billion maloti ($746-million) for selling 16,401.3 million cubic metres of clean water to its bigger, much wealthier neighbour from 1996 to 2020, according to the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), the project’s implementing agency.
In 2020 alone, Lesotho earned 1.03-billion maloti (about $69-million) when it sold about 780 million cubic metres of water to South Africa, according to the LHDA.
IVRS levels well-positioned for the upcoming winter season
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The rising levels of dams within the Integrated Vaal River System’s (IVRS) bodes well for the system as their continued upsurge over the past months looks set to keep it well-positioned as the country prepares itself for the dry winter season.
Water project agreement up for review
Bereng Mpaki
PREPARATIONS are underway for the review of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) treaty signed between Lesotho and South Africa in the 1980s to ensure Basotho achieve maximum possible benefits from the multi-billion maloti project, Minister of Finance Thabo Sophonea has said.
Mr Sophonea said this in his 2021/22 budget speech last week. He emphasized the review was meant to improve the project’s benefits for Basotho.
While the first phase of the multi-billion maloti project has significantly improved Lesotho’s economic prospects, the project has however, been criticised for failing to reduce poverty among citizens affected by its existence.