Lekhetho Ntsukunyane

South Africa’s Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba, is expected in Maseru next week for bilateral talks with his Lesotho counterpart, Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane.

The visit is scheduled for 21-22 September and seeks to consolidate “cordial working relations” that already exist between Lesotho and South Africa.

Advocate Rakuoane yesterday told the Sunday Express: “The Minister is expected to visit us on 21 September and leave the following day. During the visit, we will continue with talks the two governments have held in the past in relation to improving our already cordial working relations.

“If I may tell you a little about the agenda, we will be focusing on what we call Lesotho’s dispensation to South Africa in terms of how Basotho should generally be treated while in that country.

“The talks will, hopefully, include the issue of cross-border movement between our two countries. You will remember how this issue dragged with the past governments trying to negotiate for unrestricted movement between Lesotho and South Africa. This issue will still be on the table for discussion even during this upcoming meeting.

“We will also deal with the issue of low-skilled Basotho who seek jobs in South Africa. We know South African authorities have no problem employing highly-skilled Basotho, but this time, we want to have a clear stance as to what should happen with those who are low-skilled but in need of jobs in that country.

“The last issue relates to the recent amendments to South African immigration laws. The law has strict stipulations which have since affected even Basotho children attending school in South Africa. They are now required to produce documents such as birth certificates to cross the border while they are going to school. With the new laws, Basotho are now being barred from South Africa if they are found to have contravened the laws of that country. We will be discussing this as well during the Minister’s visit.”