KOMATI BASIN WATER
AUTHORITY KOBWA
(A WORKING SHARED WATERCOURSE INSTITUTION)
Mr. F.A Mntambo and Dr. B.L Mwaka
Commissioner and Board Chairman, KOBWA
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SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION
 Legal context
 South African Legislation
 Treaties
 Establishment of KOBWA
 Need for Bi-national Executive Arrangement
 Mandate
 Progress on implementation
Infrastructure development
Relocation
Operational
 Funding
Capital
Operational
 Benefits
 Future challenges and options
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LEGAL FRAMEWORK
UN Convention on Non-navigational uses of International Waters
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Article 3(3) says, “Watercourse States may enter into one or more agreements,
hereinafter referred to as ‘watercourse Agreements’, which apply and adjust the
provisions of the present Convention to the characteristics and uses of a particular
international watercourse or part thereof.”
SADC PROTOCOL ON SHARED WATERCOURSES
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Article 3(5) “State Parties undertake to pursue and establish close cooperation with
regard to the study and execution of all projects likely to have an effect on the regime
of the shared watercourse.”
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Article 5(3)(a) “Watercourse States undertake to establish appropriate institutions
such as watercourse commissions, water authorities or Boards.”
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NATIONAL WATER ACT (1998)
 Article 102, “The Minister may, in consultation with Cabinet, by notice in Gazette,
establish a body to implement any international agreement entered into between
South African Government and a foreign government relating to (a) investigating,
managing, monitoring and protecting water resources; (b) regional cooperation on
water resources; (c) acquiring, constructing, altering, operating and maintaining a
waterwork or (d) the allocation, use and supply of water.”
TREATIES
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Signed in 1992 between South Africa & Swaziland:
– Joint Water Commission (JWC) Treaty
• Technical advisor to Parties on matters relating to development and
utilisation of water resources of common interest
– Treaty on the Development and Utilisation of water resources of the Komati
Basin
• Provide in principle for the joint development of the water resources of the
Komati River by South Africa and Swaziland
• Establishment of KOBWA to implement phase 1
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MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
 To optimise the utilisation of the water resources from the system recognizing the
rights of Mozambique
 To reduce the risk of existing commercial farming by increasing the assurance of
water supply
 Provide water for new development Especially Emerging PDI Farmers
 Peak power generation using irrigation water
THE KOMATI BASIN WATER AUTHOURITY (KOBWA)
Rationale for Bi-national Structure Bi-national Project hence for Sovereignty Reasons one
Government cannot run it in both Countries
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Two Dams and Supporting Infrastructure Located in two Different Countries
Conjunctive use of the Dams thus increasing System Yield
Enables Legal Entity Status in both Countries
Enables Harmonization of the Different Government Systems
Autonomy and Neutrality
Acceptance by Transboundary Stakeholders
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KOBWA
Legal status

Established in terms of the Treaty on the Development and Utilization of the
Water Resources of the Komati Basin signed in 1992 between the Republic of
South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland.
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Legal status in both countries through Government gazettes.
INSTITUTIONAL AND REPORTING FRAMEWORK
Government of
Swaziland
Government of
South Africa
JWC
3 Members from each country
KOBWA
BOARD
(3 Members from each country)
Management
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KOBWA FUNCTIONS:
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Design, construction, operation and maintenance of Dams and Accessory
Infrastructure – CORE FUNCTION
Project finance
Facilitating Development and Implementation of operating rules
Equitable Water Distribution among Parties
Develop decision support systems
Implementing Relocation Programs in both Countries
(Maguga dam CMP 1998 and Lake Matsamo CMP 2003 / Driekoppies Dam RAP
2004)
Environmental monitoring in Project Area
Transboundary Stakeholder Consultation
Develop and Implement Transboundary Communication Systems in Project Area
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SYSTEM OPERATION
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Main task
– Evaluate hydrology
– Decision support systems
– Effective water supply rationing
– Water resources accounting system
– Facilitate communication and discussion
Komati Joint Operations Forum (KJOF)
MONITORING & TECHNICAL
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Collect, analyze and store data
Disseminate information
Quality and quantity of water resources
Designs, sets-up, operates and maintain hydro-meteorological and water quality
monitoring systems
– Static and Real-time
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RISK & UNCERTAINTY
 Mapping exposed areas
 Monitoring and predicting extreme climatological events
 Early warning systems
 Emergency procedures
 Liaison with authorities
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM
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Monitor water quality
Assess compliance
Monitor and control Invasive Alien Plants
AREA OF OPERATION
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The current area of Operation Consist of the Komati River Basin up-stream of the
Confluence of the Komati and the Crocodile rivers at Komatipoort
Komati and Lomati Rivers in South Africa and Swaziland
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FINANCIALS
Project Capital Cost
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Driekoppies Dam
Maguga Dam
Infrastructure Def
CMP/RAP DD/RSA
DD/SD
MD
 Monitoring (CMP/RAP)
 Water Management
 TOTAL
Not funded by the project
 Hydro-Power Station
R/E 450 million
R/E 660 million
R/E 242 million
R/E 141 million
R/E 51 million
R/E 244 million
R/E 5 million
R/E 16 million
R/E1 805 million
R/E 190 million
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PROJECT LOAN FUNDING
R/E
DBSA
(Dec 2020)
488,401,000
Nedcor Bank
( Sept 2019)
233,000,000
Gensec Bank
(Dec 2016)
165,000,000
Hambros Merchant Bank
(Bulk payment Oct 2027)
380,000,000
Rand Merchant Bank
(Aug 2019)
380,000,000
TOTAL LOAN FUNDING
1,646,401,000
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PROJECT BENEFITS TO PARTY STATES
Increased Utilizable Water Supply by 312-million cubic meters per annum at Higher
Assurance
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Increased Irrigated Land (hectare)
SA
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Existing irrigation
New irrigation
20 000
10 000
SD
TOTAL (Ha)
13 500
6 000
33 500
16 000
Increased Productivity of Existing Irrigated Agriculture:
US 14,5 million (R/E 102 million) p.a.
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Value of production on new land
US 45,0 million (R/E 315 million) p.a.
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JOB AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
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Employment and Procurement Policy of Regional Preferences
Employment:
Driekoppies
1993/1997 Max 800
Maguga
1998/2003 Max 1500
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Use of local and emerging contactors during construction
Community involvement: Project vs. Community savings
IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE UTILISATION
PLAN
KOBWA is assisting in the implementation of sustainable utilisation plans where in South Africa a first
expression of interest was advertised for the recreational activities around the dam, which covers
among others:
• Boating and jet skiing
• Hotels and lodges
• Bird watching
• Caravan park
• Braai areas and picnics
• Swimming pools etc.
• Residential
A trust for the seven affected communities has been formed and will benefit these communities from
the revenue generated by the SUP.
It is envisaged that this project will create around 400 permanent employment
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CHALLENGES
 Water abstraction measurement in Certain Sections of the River
 Land claims
 Ecological Water Requirement
 Mozambique Involvement and Beneficiation
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THANK YOU
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