Maseru, Jan. 07 — Maseru District did not receive deportees over christmas holidays due to an agreement that was reached during the Cross Border Crime Prevention Forum (CBCPF) meeting held prior to holidays.
This was said by Maseru District Administrator (DA) Mr. Ts’epo Lethobane in an interview with the Agency, saying it was agreed that Basotho nationals, who were staying in South Africa without documents such as passports or have overstayed, be allowed to come home for holidays so that they could apply for such documents.
“We did not receive deportees after December 15 due to the above-mentioned agreement” he said.
He added that he was part of the team that joined the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police Mr. Lebona Lephema in touring ports of entry to assess traffic and identity challenges faced at border posts.
” Basotho who did not have passports were allowed to enter into the country hence long queues at passport offices” he said, commending the department of Home Affairs for weekend shifts and extending working hours to combat passport backlog so that those staying and working in South Africa could return.
Meanwhile the Lesotho Exemption Permit, which was expected to expire on November 28, 2025 was extended to May 28, 2027 by the South African Department of Home Affairs.
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