LIMPOPO – South Africa and Botswana are moving to strengthen cooperation over one of Southern Africa’s most important shared water systems through a new agreement aimed at protecting water quality and controlling invasive aquatic species in the Upper Limpopo River Basin.

The agreement is expected to have been signed by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and Botswana’s Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, at the 6th South Africa–Botswana Bi-National Commission in Gaborone, which concluded yesterday.

Rather than focusing on water supply alone, the memorandum of agreement centres on joint management of water quality and tackling aquatic invasive species that threaten river ecosystems and long-term water security in the basin.

The bigger picture

The Department of Water and Sanitation said the move forms part of ongoing cooperation between the two neighbouring countries around shared transboundary water resources.

South Africa and Botswana are both members of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission, which coordinates the protection, development and equitable use of shared water resources across South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Why it matters

The Limpopo River Basin supports an estimated 14 million people across the four countries and plays a critical role in agriculture, domestic water supply, industry and economic activity.

As upstream countries, South Africa and Botswana carry the added responsibility of ensuring water quality does not negatively affect downstream users.

The Upper Limpopo River Basin includes several South African catchments, among them the Crocodile West, Marico, Mokolo and Mogalakwena systems, while in Botswana it extends across rivers including the Notwane, Lotsane, Motloutse and Mahalapye.