Government concerned over delays at main border with South Africa
5 February 2010

Lesotho has expressed concern over long queues of people and vehicles forming at Maseru and Maputsoe border gates with South Africa since Monday following the introduction of new control measures by the South African government on 1 February.

Briefing the press on Thursday, Finance and Development Planning Minister Timothy Thahane said since the South Africa Revenue Authority (SARS) introduced a new gate pass system, some business people have failed to attend their meetings both in Lesotho and South Africa due to the delays at the entry point.

”We have received reports that such business people were forced to return at the border gate due to long queues, in which people going to South Africa and coming into Lesotho, have to undergo,” he explained

Thahane disclosed that the SARS authorities contacted their Lesotho counterparts notifying them about the new system which was intended to combat crime and illegal immigrants from Lesotho to South Africa.

However, the minister said he had tried in vain to contact his South African counterpart to see how best the new system could be implemented without affecting business between the two countries.

”This new gate pass system needs to be suspended while trying to look for how best to implement it in an effective and best way possible which will not affect legal immigrants,” he observed.

Though he said Lesotho has no power to dictate to South Africa about that country’s affairs, he believed that both governments are bound by their geographical positions to work in harmony.

Since Monday this week those visiting South Africa, through Maseru and Maputsoe border gates, were subjected to lengthy interviews before being given forms to fill and allowed to pass.