‘Mantṥali Phakoana
Basotho visiting South Africa will soon be allowed to stay in the neighbouring country for three months per each visit.
This comes as the two countries finalise modalities to introduce a 90-day visa and resolve challenges relating to cross-border movement.
Local government, chieftainship, home affairs and police minister Lebona Lephema, and his SA his counterpart, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced this yesterday.
The visa agreement will be effective once it has been presented and ratified by the South African parliament.
Lephema said they had also discussed concerns around migration study and work permits for Basotho in SA.
“Today we are not just signing this agreement for the sake of signing but we truly believe in the spirit of Ubuntu, loosely translated – I am because you are. Your security is indeed our security.
“We also appreciate the commitment around the extension of the entry visa for Basotho into SA from 30 days visa per visit to 90 days. This gesture will go a long way towards resolving some of the challenges relating to cross-border movement of our people,” he noted.
He added that it is important for Basotho to understand that SA does not have any problem with them travelling to that country for different purposes as long as they abide by its laws.
On his part, Motsoaledi said the agreement follows a Bi-National Commission between prime minister Sam Matekane and SA president Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria in September last year.
Motsoaledi explained that the Border Management Authority established by his country is tasked with ensuring that its immigration laws are enforced, and that borders are well-protected and ports of entry well-managed.
“With this new structure in place, we will be able to better prevent the illegal importation and exit of goods, curb illegal migration and human smuggling, as well as combat cross-border crime,” he pointed out.
