Hon Chair, Cope has learnt that the idea of transferring water from the Kingdom of Lesotho to South Africa originated in 1920. The distinct possibility of putting this idea into action was raised again in 1950 by a Cape Town-based engineer, Ninham Shand, with sceptics not giving it a chance of ever coming to fruition.
However, it was formalised in 1986 with the signing of the co-operation treaty between the two countries. This treaty covered all aspects of design, construction, operation and maintenance, and institutions of government and governance. Little did the sceptics know that by the end of 2008 the Lesotho Highlands Water Project would reach its biggest milestone. The entire project is expected to cost about US$8 billion on its completion in 2020. It is set to claim its rightful place as a blueprint for Africa's future water resources, development and management initiatives.
Who would have guessed at that time that this would become a truly African success story? In November 2003 the SA Institution of Civil Engineering named the Lesotho Highlands Water Project "The Project of the Century". This is a sign of true African co-operation long before "Chinese" became an investor buzz word.
This water is meant to address the needs of South Africa's rapidly expanding Gauteng province, which generates almost 60% of the country's industrial output and 80% of its mining output, and where over 40% of South Africa's population live. This province needs more water. The Lesotho government received royalties for the water sent to South Africa of about $31 million in 2004. This is about 5% of its GDP, which has grown to over R450 million year on year. This project will create 3 500 new jobs for the Basotho people. Before the project, Lesotho depended entirely on South Africa for its electricity requirements. Now her hydroelectricity is almost 100% homegrown, thanks to this initiative.
However, this glorious story gets drowned in the water - if you will excuse the pun - of the unfortunate events of corruption and fraud that occurred soon after the inception of Phase I. Thanks to the resolute democratic government that came to power in Lesotho in 1993, that corruption was quickly rooted out, just as it reared its ugly head.
It is Cope's desire that similar resoluteness should be shown here against party deployees who glean government resources with impunity. It is hoped that the likelihood of corruption taking place in the second phase of the project will be nonexistent, in the light of the Phase I examples. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has confirmed that an anticorruption policy between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho has been put firmly in place.
Cope supports this exciting project. I thank you.
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho on Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project approved.