Mokhotlong – President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the Senqu Bridge as a milestone in the longstanding collaboration between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
The towering symbol of unity and progress was unveiled on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, by President Cyril Ramaphosa, King Letsie III, and Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane.
Rising more than 2 500 metres above sea level, the Senqu Bridg is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the region, designed to endure for generations.
The Senqu Bridge forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), a transboundary initiative that has long been hailed as one of the world’s most successful water-sharing agreements.
Alongside two other bridges spanning the Polihali reservoir, the new structure was expected to dramatically improve transport links, reduce costs for communities and businesses, and boost tourism in the mountainous kingdom.
“This bridge tells a story of determination in the face of complexity,” President Ramaphosa said, praising the project team for ensuring that no households were left worse off by construction.
He highlighted that more than 1 200 jobs were created, with most positions filled by Basotho workers, and celebrated the inclusion of young engineers and graduates through the LHWP’s Young Professionals Programme.
The President underscored the bridge’s broader significance saying: “This project is more than infrastructure. It is more than steel and concrete. It is a symbol of a deep and enduring partnership.
“The Senqu Bridge is an example of what Africa can achieve when it believes in itself.”
South Africa, a water-scarce nation, relies heavily on Lesotho’s highland resources.
President Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to the Basotho people for their role in sustaining South Africa’s development, while also announcing humanitarian assistance to support Lesotho’s fight against HIV and tuberculosis.
“As a reaffirmation of our desire to further deepen cooperation, I am pleased to announce that South Africa will provide humanitarian assistance to the Kingdom of Lesotho to the value of R30 million from our African Renaissance Fund,” President Ramaphosa announced.
The launch also reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations.
President Ramaphosa referenced last year’s Bi-National Commission in Maseru, where six agreements were signed to deepen cooperation in water, energy, defence, and economic growth.
He pledged that the next session will expand collaboration into infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications, and finance.
As interim SADC Chair, President Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of regional integration under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, calling the bridge a step toward an economically united Africa.
The Senqu Bridge now stands as both a practical lifeline and a powerful metaphor: a bridge to the future, built on friendship, solidarity, and shared destiny.
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