The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) cordially invites you to the book launch of White Gold and Thirsty Communities: The Cold War, Apartheid, and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on 27 February 2026 at Exclusive Books, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Join us for the launch of this compelling new work, which uncovers the complex history of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project – a story of international diplomacy, Cold War geopolitics, and the anti-apartheid struggle whose consequences continue to shape Southern African communities today.

Drawing on extensive research, the book examines how a major infrastructure project became entangled with some of the most significant political battles of the late 20th century, from Soweto to American sanctions, from guerrilla warfare to township unrest. Three decades after apartheid’s formal end, the ‘white gold’ that flows daily from Lesotho to Johannesburg remains beyond the reach of the very communities it was meant to serve, offering a stark reminder that the promises of the post-apartheid era remain unfulfilled for many. 

Date: 27 February 2026

Time: 18:00–18:30

Venue: Exclusive Books Waterfront, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

(Light refreshments will be served.)

RSVP: skhan@hsrc.ac.za