Lesotho Expands Water Exports To South Africa With Landmark Senqu Bridge

Lesotho is set to boost water exports to South Africa as the landmark Senqu Bridge nears completion.

Water supply in Johannesburg continues to depend heavily on imports from neighbouring Lesotho, with about 60 per cent of the city’s water sourced from the mountain kingdom. Authorities say this reliance is expected to increase as Lesotho moves to expand its export capacity through new infrastructure.

A key component of that expansion is the Senqu Bridge, an 825-metre-long and 90-metre-high structure under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The project currently supplies about 780 million cubic metres of water annually to South Africa, with projections indicating that volumes will rise to over 1.27 billion cubic metres per year upon completion.

Speaking on the development, King Letsie III highlighted the dual significance of the initiative, noting that Lesotho remains committed to supporting South Africa’s water security while leveraging the project to advance its own economic growth and energy ambitions. He also called for a renewed focus on long-term planning, discipline, and integrity in national development efforts.

Beyond its economic implications, the bridge represents a notable engineering achievement. Valued at $144 million, the Senqu Bridge is Lesotho’s first extradosed structure—an advanced hybrid design that blends cable-stayed and prestressed girder systems. Engineers employed an incremental launching construction method, a technique that enhances worker safety while minimising environmental disruption.

As the project progresses, the expanded water transfer capacity is expected to strengthen regional cooperation while reinforcing Lesotho’s role as a key supplier in Southern Africa’s water network.