The Minister of Home Affairs, Local Government, Chieftainship and Police, Honourable Lebona Lephema, held a press conference to brief Basotho on recent engagements between the Governments of Lesotho and South Africa regarding improvements at border crossings.

The meeting focused on facilitating easier movement of people while strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Honourable Lephema announced that one of the key proposals is the use of National Identity Cards as official travel documents, allowing both Basotho and South Africans to cross borders without passports. He explained that this initiative is aimed at reducing barriers to movement and improving convenience for citizens who frequently travel between the two countries.

Mrs Bertha Pitso from the Office of Immigration outlined measures to improve efficiency at border posts, including the introduction of electronic gates (e-gates) that will allow travelers to scan their IDs for quicker processing and reduced congestion. Vehicles will be handled through tollgate systems under a One-Stop Border Post model.

The discussions also addressed labour matters, where South Africa will determine workforce needs and issue permits accordingly, while also aligning opportunities with its Critical Skills framework. Health requirements, including medical aid and insurance for travelers, were also highlighted.

Additionally, the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system was announced, which will apply to visitors entering South Africa and support applications such as study VISAs and extended stays beyond the current 90-day limit, up to 180 days.

Basotho who have overstayed are encouraged to report to the Office of the Director of Immigration to register their cases for possible consideration. The Minister further urged Basotho to respect South African laws, emphasizing that the ETA is not a work permit but a system that enables legal travel and application processes through proper channels.