- South Africa and Eswatini seek to review the Komati River Basin treaty they signed in 1992.
- The public has been invited to make submissions on the planned construction of new dams in the basin.
The governments of South Africa and Eswatini are planning to build more dams in the Komati River Basin for irrigation purposes. The Eswatini government, which made the announcement, said between the 2nd and 9th of March, the two governments would “engage” the public in reviewing the Komati River Basin Treaty. The treaty, signed in 1992, is the blueprint for both countries’ use and development of the Komati River Basin. It is run through line ministries responsible for water in both countries, forming the Komati Basin Water Authority (Kobwa).
Through the treaty, the basin forms Maguga Dam in Eswatini, which provides 20MW of hydroelectricity. The dam, also used for irrigation, is the biggest public works project ever in Eswatini. On the South African side, the basin forms the Driekoppies dam, used for irrigation projects in Mpumalanga.
The Eswatini government said the treaty had not been renewed and that the two countries “would like to enhance and elevate the operations of Kobwa’s mandate”. The two countries intended to manage Kobwa as an accredited water management institution and wanted to move to the second phase of the project, which would result in the construction of additional dams at the Komati Water Basin. On Thursday, South Africa will hold a stakeholders’ meeting at the Pestana Kruger Lodge in Malelane. A week later, on the 9th of March, Eswatini will engage the public at Piggs Peak Hotel in Mbabane.