Mofomobe slams Matekane 

…over plight of Basotho migrants in South Africa 

Ithabeleng Qhasho / Rethabile Pitso 

BASOTHO National Party (BNP) leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe, has accused Prime Minister Sam Matekane of failing to provide visible leadership as thousands of Basotho face an uncertain future amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment and the expulsion of foreign nationals from South Africa. 

Addressing a press conference in Maseru yesterday, Mr Mofomobe said the Prime Minister should be leading the national conversation on issues of critical importance, as leaders in other neighbouring countries have done. 

South Africa has recently witnessed increasing anti-immigrant activities by vigilante groups, leading to fears among migrant workers, including thousands of Basotho employed across the border. 

Mr Mofomobe said the government’s handling of the situation and the anticipated economic and social fallout from the loss of jobs by Basotho migrants had been inadequate and poorly coordinated. 

He warned that the looming unemployment crisis could have devastating consequences for families that depend on income earned in South Africa and called for urgent government intervention and a clear national response. 

Mr Mofomobe said the Prime Minister should take a more prominent role in addressing the crisis, reassuring affected citizens and outlining measures to cushion the country from the expected economic impact. 

He also criticised Mr Matekane’s latest promises regarding passport issuance. 

“I am amused by the promises the Prime Minister made yesterday about passports, yet he has failed for four years to deliver passports to Basotho,” Mr Mofomobe said. 

“Eighty percent of Basotho do not qualify for general work permits, critical skills visas, corporate visas or short-term permits. That brings into question the 90-day agreement, which is not benefiting Basotho in any way.” 

Mr Mofomobe further alleged that the government was never genuinely committed to repatriating Basotho stranded in South Africa. 

He claimed that after former minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Lebona Lephema, announced and dispatched buses to collect stranded Basotho, the government hurriedly issued its own statement announcing that it would begin transporting citizens on 29 June. 

Mr Lephema had dispatched busses to Durban to collect Basotho wishing to come home. Those started arriving at Maputsoe Bridge on Monday. 

According to Mr Mofomobe, the government’s decision was motivated by competition with Mr Lephema rather than a well-planned rescue operation. 

“They sent buses only to Durban, yet Basotho are scattered across South Africa – in Cape Town, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and many other areas,” he said. 

Mr Mofomobe argued that by focusing solely on Durban, the government had overlooked thousands of Basotho living and working elsewhere in South Africa. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Matekane has announced that all new passport applications will, with immediate effect, be processed within four days as part of the government’s efforts to improve service delivery. 

He also said the Ministry of Home Affairs had committed itself to clearing the existing backlog of passport applications, including long-outstanding cases, within the next three months. 

Mr Matekane made the announcement during the Accountability Summit in Maseru yesterday, an event aimed at updating Basotho on the government’s development agenda, achievements and challenges. 

The summit followed a leadership forum held in Berea last week and facilitated by representatives from Rwanda, who shared governance and public service experiences with the Lesotho government. 

The Prime Minister identified passport shortages and unemployment as among the country’s most pressing challenges, saying the government was implementing measures to address both. 

He announced that since 24 June, passport applicants have been receiving mobile phone notifications updating them on the status of their applications, a move intended to reduce long queues at Home Affairs offices. 

“One of our government’s biggest challenges has been the provision of passports to Basotho and recently we have been actively engaged in addressing this issue head-on. 

“We have resolved to ensure that new passport applications are processed within four days, with applicants having access to a platform enabling them to track the process in real time. 

“Furthermore, the Home Affairs offices have committed to tackling the current backlog within a period of three months from now,” Mr Matekane said. 

He acknowledged that many of the problems faced by Basotho migrants in South Africa stem from the lack of valid travel documents. 

“We acknowledge that the problems faced by many migrant Basotho in South Africa are largely due to the lack of passports, and the responsibility to provide our people with such documents lies with us. 

“However, for agreements to be reached, both countries have to engage in informed deliberations to reach consensus,” he said. 

Recognising that South Africa could not provide a permanent solution to unemployment among unskilled Basotho migrants, Mr Matekane said the government was prioritising domestic job creation. 

“In future we cannot continue relying on other countries to provide employment opportunities for our people. The most sustainable solution is to create home-based opportunities. 

“I therefore reiterate the government’s intention to grow industries, enhance commercial agriculture, expand markets and support local manufacturing for export. 

“Every Mosotho must live with dignity in their own country, and moving to other countries must be a choice made with that dignity intact,” he said. 

The premier said the Accountability Summit would now be held annually as part of the government’s commitment to transparency and public engagement. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Nthomeng Majara, said the summit marked a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening engagement between the government and citizens. 

She said meaningful transformation would only be achieved when the government and citizens worked together to overcome challenges such as poverty and food insecurity. 

“We have noted with sadness that many Basotho are struggling to access basic human needs. 

“Studies reveal that about two-thirds of our population live in remote areas with limited access to essential services. We are also aware that the largest segment of our population comprises young people aged between 22 and 23, yet 30 percent of our youth are unemployed. 

“Statistics further reveal that 42 percent of Basotho still live below the poverty line,” Ms Majara said. 

She said the government remained committed to creating jobs through commercial agriculture, tourism and other key sectors. 

“We have great potential in tourism, where significant growth has been registered, with about 542,000 tourists visiting the country in 2022 and a staggering 960,000 in 2024,” she said. 

Ms Majara also highlighted progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, nationwide electrification, water and sanitation projects and road infrastructure development. 

“It is concerning that many Basotho have not yet felt the impact of development because of persistent challenges such as unemployment, hunger, stunting, inadequate infrastructure and poor service delivery in some government institutions. 

“But we remain committed to creating at least 10,000 jobs annually, improving services, commercialising agriculture, protecting the environment and improving education,” she said. 

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