The governments of South Africa and Eswatini have signed a revised treaty on the development and utilisation of the water resources of the Komati River Basin, marking a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation on shared water management.
The agreement was signed at the Maguga Dam in the Kingdom of Eswatini by South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, and Eswatini’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela Dlamini. The Maguga Dam, completed in 2002 as a joint project between the two countries, serves as a symbol of their long-standing partnership in water infrastructure.
Under the existing arrangements, South Africa utilises 60% of the water from the Maguga Dam, while Eswatini takes 40%. The original treaty dates back 33 years to 1992, when the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) was established to oversee Phase One of the Komati River Basin Development Project. This phase focused on the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Maguga Dam in Eswatini and the Driekoppies Dam in South Africa.
The original treaty was signed before several key legislative developments in both countries, including South Africa’s Constitution Act 108 of 1996, its National Water Act of 1998, and Eswatini’s water legislation of 2003. At the time, KOBWA’s role was limited primarily to the initial dam project phases, described as an “incubator period” that concluded after construction and basic abstraction functions.
The revised treaty updates the framework to reflect these legal and operational evolutions, enabling the pursuit of future projects funded jointly by both nations. These initiatives are expected to deliver much-needed water for agricultural irrigation, mining operations, domestic supply, and industrialisation.
The signing ceremony highlighted the broader importance of water as an essential resource. Prince Lonkhokhela Dlamini emphasised that water is fundamental to life, health, and development, likening it to the air people breathe. He expressed gratitude for the ongoing cooperation, underscoring its role in promoting sustainability, preserving resources for future generations in Eswatini, South Africa, and even downstream Mozambique, and driving development in its purest form through enhanced water access.
The agreement also includes provisions for the two countries to meet more frequently to exchange ideas on water conservation, reticulation, and related matters.
This revised treaty is seen as opening the door to Phase Two developments under KOBWA, which could involve additional dam projects in the basin and revenue-generating initiatives to ensure the authority’s financial sustainability and reduce reliance on direct government funding. The move is anticipated to benefit communities by expanding irrigated land, improving drinking water availability, and supporting economic growth through better water security.