Controversy Over Water Sharing

The Katse Dam, completed in 1996 as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, was established through an agreement between Lesotho and apartheid South Africa. Nestled in a country that is entirely situated above 1,000 meters, Lesotho benefits from significant rainfall, which is channeled through a network of tunnels into South Africa's Vaal river system. However, the nearby village, just a kilometer from the dam, faces a dire water crisis, relying on a contaminated natural spring for their daily needs. Residents of the village express their frustration, highlighting the poor quality of their water supply, which often contains visible contaminants. "Sometimes when you come to the water you see little worms, but we still drink the water, because there is no way we can survive without it," lamented a local. Despite repeated promises from politicians since 2020 to provide running water, villagers report no progress, leaving them to question the benefits of the dam that looms over them. The Katse Dam, the first of its kind in the project, was followed by a second dam in 2003. As South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, continues to grow and demand more water, experts emphasize the critical role of Lesotho's water resources in supporting the South African economy. Yet, for residents like Ms. Mosiyoa, who can see the dam from her home, the project has not translated into tangible improvements in their lives. The ongoing disparity between the dam's benefits to South Africa and the persistent poverty faced by local communities raises urgent questions about resource management and equitable development in the region.