Ramaphosa hails Senqu Bridge as SA–Lesotho partnership milestone

President Cyril Ramaphosa and King Letsie the Third together with their delegations at the launch of the Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong, in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

President Ramaphosa says the opening of the Senqu Bridge is testament to the longstanding collaboration between South Africa and Lesotho. His remarks came as he and King Letsie the Third, as well as Prime Minister Samuel Matekane, officially launched the bridge in Mokhotlong.

It is considered a landmark achievement under Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

Ramaphosa thanked Lesotho for making water resources available to South Africa.

“The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is one of the most ambitious and successful transboundary water projects in the world. It is the largest investment South Africa has ever made outside its borders. South Africa is a water-scarce country, and the waters of Lesotho’s highlands are vital to our country’s development. We remain forever grateful to the great Basotho nation for making water resources available to us,” says Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa says South Africa plans to continue working with Lesotho on various areas, including energy, capacity building, and skills development, defence, and social development.

He has announced that South Africa will provide humanitarian assistance to Lesotho at a value of R30 million from our African Renaissance Fund.

“This will help Lesotho to strengthen its national response to HIV and tuberculosis in the context of dwindling levels of international humanitarian assistance. As the current interim Chair of SADC and Chair later this year, South Africa will continue to promote and champion regional initiatives to accelerate trade, investment and integration and to deepen people-to-people links.”