By Emily Setona
CLARENS – The official reopening of the 38km Ash River Tunnel in Clarens, Free State, was celebrated on May 25, 2025, which is Africa Day, as a significant milestone in regional cooperation and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the event, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina emphasized the importance of tackling water losses moving forward. “We must fight the leaks. No drop must be lost,” she said. “We know that leaks are mostly caused by poorly maintained infrastructure.”
The Ash River Tunnel forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a collaborative initiative between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. The reopening marks the successful completion of essential maintenance, reinforcing strong bilateral ties.
“This is a day of celebration, not only because water is flowing, but because it is not causing conflict,” said Majodina during a media briefing. “This project is between two countries — Lesotho and South Africa. We completed our side on time, by March 31. The delays were on the Lesotho side, due to inclement weather, and we had to be patient. Today, on Africa Day, water is flowing at the Ash River outfall.”
Majodina also praised the peaceful cooperation within the SADC region, noting, “In the SADC region, countries are not fighting over water.”
Deputy Minister David Mahlobo expressed gratitude to Lesotho for its continued partnership. “Water has no boundaries,” he said. He applauded the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) for its exceptional engineering and timely delivery of the project.
Mahlobo also commended municipalities, farmers, local leaders, and the media for their collaborative efforts. “From national government to the smallest village, this was a collective success,” he stated.
Seiso Mohai, representing the project’s oversight, attributed its success to transparency and accountability. “The department welcomed monitoring and evaluation from the start. We can now measure progress and see we are on the right track,” he said.
Teboho Nkhahle, South Africa’s chief delegate to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, highlighted the complexity of the operation.
“This was no ordinary maintenance. There were many twists and turns, but the Minister kept us moving forward. And we completed the work before Africa Day.”
