Media Statement: International Relations Committee Welcomes President’s Cooperation with King Letsie on Lesotho Highlands Project

Parliament, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 - The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation noted on Tuesday 23 May 2023 that President Cyril Ramaphosa was in the Kingdom of Lesotho where he joined King Letsie III for the sod-turning ceremony that launched phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Project, the Polihali Dam. The committee welcomed the continuing cooperation between Lesotho and South Africa on this project.

As South Africa is a water-scarce country, the committee is encouraged by this new phase of the project, which will ensure that South Africa receives water from Lesotho. In terms of oversight, the committee will ensure that there is full implementation of the project for mutual benefit of the peoples of Lesotho and South Africa.

The committee is also aware of South Africa's advance team comprising the Minister in the Presidency and other experts, which is in Moscow to prepare for peace missions to Moscow and Kiev, led by South Africa and endorsed by the heads of state of Zambia, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Egypt. "We welcome the African Peace Plan Initiative. We support it because it is in line with the foreign policy position, which South Africa has been articulating since the start of the conflict," said the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Supra Mahumapelo.

Mr Mahumapelo added: "We remain concerned about the contribution of the conflict to Africa's increasing food insecurity, with the rising costs of grain and fertiliser. We are greatly encouraged by the manner in which the two leaders from Russia and Ukraine have welcomed the African initiative, and their willingness to receive the African heads of state in both Moscow and Kiev.

"We stand by peaceful means to end conflicts and we believe that since the Secretary-General of the United Nations has also endorsed this initiative, it will bear fruit and bring the parties in the conflict closer to peaceful coexistence," he said.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION, MR SUPRA MAHUMAPELO.

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