Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu will host his counterparts from Botswana, Namibia and the Kingdom of Lesotho during the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) Forum of Parties on Thursday, 6 July 2023 at Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria.

The meeting of Ministers responsible for water (Forum of Parties) in the four Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries seeks to discuss ways in which to strengthen the already existing transboundary relations in the management of Orange-Senqu River Basin and reflect on some of the achievements attained since the ORASECOM was established in 2000.

Minister Mchunu, representing South Africa as a Chairperson will be joined by Botswana’s Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila; Minister of Natural Resources in Lesotho, Mr Mohlomi Moleko and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform in Namibia, Ms Anna Shiweda.

ORASECOM was established in the year 2000 through an agreement amongst Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. The Commission began its work soon after the signing of the Revised SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses. The Permanent Secretariat was established in 2007 and is based in Centurion, South Africa.

The meeting takes place annually on a rotational basis among the four member states, with the Republic of South Africa hosting this year wherein the ministers, responsible for water in the Orange-Senqu River Basin, meet on matters related to the development, use and conservation of water resources in the basin.

Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:

Opening Address by the ministers of the four member states at 09h00- 10h00

Media Briefing at 12h30.

Source: Government of South Africa