By Neo Kolane
The ministry of home affairs yesterday announced further relaxation of travel restrictions to be put in place during the festive season.
The plans are intended to ease entry of homecoming Basotho and exit of travelers, and are set to come into effect on December 18 and will end on January 3, 2021.
Home affairs minister Motlalentoa Letsosa disclosed an addition of departments operating at the ports of entry, and the strengthening of existing ones. These are immigration, police, health and LRA.
Letsosa said incoming migrants will be screened at the border and those who are suspected to have COVID-19 will be taken to the ministry of health.
“The Lesotho and South African police will patrol the border gates for the people who cross illegally.
“Another big issue the department is looking at is status of different Basotho based in South Africa. These include those who took out the four-year special permits which have since expired ,” he said.
Letsosa also announced that people who were given a 30-day visa to stay in South Africa between February 25 and October 1 – the lockdown period – will be permitted to cross into Lesotho without any hitch.
