SA-Moz water ministers meet to strengthen co-operation

The minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, hosted his Mozambican counterpart, the minister of the Department of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, for a two-day meeting on November 24 and 25.

This was in response to a request by Mesquita to visit the country to discuss co-operation on matters of mutual interest in the field of water resources, and to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The two ministers emphasised the need to strengthen co-operation and relations through the Joint Water Commission (JWC) Agreement signed in 1996. The commission acts as a technical advisory body to the parties on all matters relating to the development and utilisation of water resources of common interest.

South Africa and Mozambique share the Inkomati River and Maputo River Basin, which supply water to citizens residing along the corridor of these two countries.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment towards resolving the Maputo/Usuthu breach, which provides water security for their respective communities in the common border areas, and to work closely with the relevant stakeholders in this endeavour.

The ministers further noted that the Pongolapoort Dam’s full annual flood releases have not been realised these past five years, because of very low water levels in the dam, which had dropped due to prolonged drought in the region.

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The purpose of the flood releases is to replenish downstream riparian off-channel pans and lakes for social-environmental sustainability of the floodplain that stretches from South Africa into Mozambique.

However, the drought has ended and water levels in the dam have recovered. Flood releases commenced on November 14. The peak discharge is expected to enter Mozambique around December 6 at the rate of about 200m³/s.

The two countries agreed to continue updating each other with the view of sharing information and data regarding the releases.

The ministers also emphasised the need for the two countries to collaborate in improving water supply and sanitation in the Ressano Garcia in Mozambique.

The Komati Basin Water Authority is an international organisation formed by RSA and eSwatini to manage operations and maintenance of the Driekoppies and Maguga dams in both countries. The Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency is a local agency responsible for the water management in the Inkomati and Maputo River Basin.

The ministers also noted the progress on the key projects such as the installation of the six radial gates in the Corumana Dam, rehabilitation of the bottom outlet of the Massingir Dam, mobilisation of funds for the construction of the Moamba Major Dam in Mozambique and Goboshe Dam in South Africa.

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The ministers further committed their support to the Incomati-Maputo Water Commisison as the new institution established, and the Limpopo Water Commission (LIMCOM) to promote co-operation between the three parties, in order to ensure the development, protection and sustainable utilisation of water resources shared by the member states, and conclusion of the LIMCOM amendment, which will enable the council of ministers as the highest decision body of the LIMCOM.

The meeting affirmed the continued healthy co-operation between both governments especially on transboundary water resources management. A decision was taken that the JWC should meet at least once a year, while the ministers would meet biannually to share updates and discuss progress on the work of the commission.