Transboundary waters promote integration
WATER is a source of life that cuts across boundaries in an effort to give life to humankind, animals and plants, hence it is referred to as life.
Transboundary waters can serve as a key focal point for collaboration, thereby diminishing tension between countries while promoting regional integration and development.
The South African National Water Act recognises the need to share transboundary water resources with neighbouring countries.
Transboundary water management creates benefits for everyone to share international trade, economic growth, food security, better governance and regional integration. Co-operation is of the essence, moreover in areas exposed to the impacts of climate change and where water is scarce.
SA shares four major rivers (Incomati, Limpopo, Maputo and Orange-Senqu) systems with six neighbouring countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
The Orange/Senqu River share water with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia under the banner of Orange-Senqu River Commission (Orasecom), with a clear mandate to provide co-ordination between the riparian states to promote integrated water resources management and development within the basin.
The Orange-Senqu River Commission is also known as “One River, Four Nations” based on the number of countries the river passes through. The basin incorporates the central part of South Africa, which represents nearly half of the surface area of the RSA. Among others the Orasecom mandate is to determine the requirements for flow monitoring and flood management.
In 1986, South Africa signed with Lesotho a treaty on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) leading to establishment of the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission to implement the scheme. The objective of the LHWP is to export water from Lesotho to the north of South Africa.
The Lesotho highlands deliver water to the Vaal river basin – another sub-basin of the Orange river basin – to secure water supplies in the Pretoria- WitwatersrandVereeniging area. The TransCaledon Tunnel Authority was then established in 1986 to manage the LHWP. Limpopo River shares water with South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe under the Limpopo Watercourse Commission. In addition, South Africa shares a number of aquifers with neighbouring countries.
The Komati Basin Water Authority is a bi-national entity formed in 1993. The agreement was between the Kingdom of eSwatini and the Republic of South Africa to implement Phase 1 of the Komati River Basin Development Project.
As each country strives to generate economic growth and provide water for urban and rural residents, pressures on these shared systems are increasing due to climate change.
It is for this reason that a clarion call has been made to people living around transboundary river banks to be water-wise and stop river pollution. |