…as Lesotho seeks path to the sea
…and better job opportunities for Basotho in SA
Mohloai Mpesi
LESOTHO has opened discussions with South Africa on compensation for historical injustices, including the loss of its western territories, with the government proposing a piece of land leading Lesotho to the sea as an alternative to reclaiming the land.
The route to the sea, according to the government, would enable Lesotho to import and export goods without first having to seek clearance from South Africa.
The government is also pushing for improved employment opportunities for Basotho in South Africa, expanded access to work permits and faster implementation of measures to ease trade between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, Limpho Tau, told the Lesotho Times this week that Prime Minister Sam Matekane raised the issues with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, during their Bilateral National Commission (BNC) meeting in Durban on 16 August 2026.
Mr Tau said the discussions were intended to address longstanding historical grievances while strengthening economic cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
“President Ramaphosa agreed that the two countries need to talk. We are now preparing to start the discussions because he was amenable to the proposals,” Mr Tau said.
Lesotho, formerly Basutoland, is a landlocked kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, founded by King Moshoeshoe I in 1824. It lost substantial portions of its fertile western territories to the Boer republic of the Orange Free State during wars in 1858 and between 1865 and 1868. The territory, now part of South Africa’s Free State province, is commonly known as the Conquered Territory.
Britain placed Basutoland under its protection in 1868, and the boundary was formalised in 1869 under the Treaty of Aliwal North. Lesotho attained independence on 4 October 1966.
Mr Tau said Mr Matekane had previously commissioned research to establish the circumstances surrounding the territorial losses and assess whether international law offered Lesotho a basis for reclaiming the land.
The research involved a historian and two legal experts, one from South Africa and the other from the Netherlands. Their work was completed around mid-2024.
“The research established that Lesotho has legitimate historical and legal grounds to raise the issue. However, the challenge is that Africa has committed itself to preserving the borders inherited at independence to prevent renewed territorial conflicts,” Mr Tau said.
He was referring to the 1964 Cairo Declaration, adopted by the then Organisation of African Unity, and the African Union Constitutive Act of 2000, through which AU member states pledged to respect the colonial borders that existed on the day they achieved independence.
Mr Tau said these principles made a straightforward territorial claim difficult but did not rule out negotiations or a peaceful settlement.
“The experts pointed out that, although the historical case has merit, the principles governing African borders present serious obstacles to recovering the territory. However, they also emphasised the importance of dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution.
“This means we must explore a negotiated solution that addresses Lesotho’s grievances without creating conflict between the two countries,” he said.
He cited the longstanding Botswana-Namibia dispute over Kasikili/Sedudu Island on the Chobe River as an example of a territorial disagreement resolved through legal channels. The International Court of Justice ruled in Botswana’s favour in 1999.
Mr Tau said Lesotho’s grievances extended beyond territorial losses to the economic and human consequences of colonial rule, including the exploitation of Basotho migrant workers and the violence experienced during apartheid.
He said the loss of fertile western land had deprived Lesotho of resources that could have supported its economic development, while generations of Basotho men had been recruited to work in South African mines under difficult conditions.
“Lesotho lost more than three times its present size through the territorial changes of the nineteenth century. Those lands included fertile areas that could have contributed significantly to our agricultural production and economic prosperity,” he said.
Mr Tau said the historical relationship between the two countries also had to be examined in the context of migrant labour, under which Basotho men travelled to South Africa to work in the mines and often returned home when they could no longer continue working.
“These are not isolated historical events. They shaped our economy, our livelihoods and our relationship with South Africa. We believe there is a moral responsibility to confront that history and discuss what can be done to address its consequences,” he said.
He also cited the 9 December 1982 Maseru Massacre, when South African Defence Force commandos raided the capital, killing 42 people, including South African exiles and Basotho nationals.
Mr Tau said the government believed that such historical grievances deserved serious consideration as the two countries worked towards a more equitable relationship.
“Our position is that these injustices should not simply remain part of the history books. They must be acknowledged, and we must have an honest discussion about appropriate forms of redress,” he said.
The government’s push for negotiations comes amid renewed continental efforts to address the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
Mr Tau said Lesotho was drawing on the Algiers Declaration on the crimes of colonialism, adopted by African foreign ministers in December 2025 and endorsed by the African Union in February 2026.
He said the declaration provided an additional basis for African countries to discuss historical injustices and possible reparations.
“The declaration reflects a growing recognition across Africa that the consequences of colonialism and apartheid cannot be ignored. Lesotho believes this creates an opportunity for us and South Africa to engage constructively on the injustices that have affected our country,” Mr Tau said.
He said the government wanted the discussions to result in practical measures rather than remain a debate about the past.
“South Africa needs to engage with us on how these grievances can be addressed. We are not seeking confrontation. We want a peaceful, structured process that recognises our concerns and produces solutions that benefit both countries,” he said.
Access to the sea
Mr Tau said Lesotho was proposing a piece of land leading to the sea as a possible form of compensation for the loss of its western territories.
Rather than making the return of the Conquered Territory the central demand, he said the government wants to explore arrangements that would give Lesotho a direct access to coastal trade and international markets by having its own port.
“Rather than the return of the conquered territories, we prefer compensation in the form of access to the sea to open Lesotho to coastal trade and independence,” he said.
He said the proposal was aimed at reducing the disadvantages of being landlocked, particularly Lesotho’s dependence on South African ports and transport corridors for international imports and exports.
The government believes that improved access to maritime trade could create new economic opportunities, strengthen exports and help reduce the costs and logistical barriers facing businesses.
Mr Tau said the two countries’ foreign affairs ministries were expected to begin preparing for the proposed discussions.
Jobs and trade
Beyond historical compensation, Lesotho is seeking a new arrangement with South Africa to expand employment opportunities for Basotho, particularly low- and semi-skilled workers.
Mr Tau said the government wanted the two countries to consider sector-specific employment agreements that would allow Basotho to work in industries including textiles, domestic services, retail, construction, agriculture and transport.
He said such an arrangement could draw on the organised contractual recruitment system historically used in the mining industry, while adapting it to the needs of other sectors.
“Employment is one of the major pressures facing Lesotho, and we want to explore practical ways of opening more opportunities for our people in South Africa. A structured labour agreement could give workers access to jobs while providing employers with a clearer and more predictable recruitment framework,” he said.
The government is also seeking to reopen applications for Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEPs) and restore the number of permits available to skilled Basotho to levels previously allowed in 2016/17.
About 54,000 Basotho currently live in South Africa under the LEP, which allows them to reside, work, study, or run businesses legally. Originally set to expire in July 2026, the permit were extended to 28 May 2027.
Mr Tau said the government wanted progress on a revised migration framework informed by research conducted with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration and a joint team of migration experts from the two countries.
He said a more predictable system would help workers and employers plan while ensuring that migration arrangements responded to changing economic conditions.
“We want the migration framework to move forward without unnecessary delays. Basotho need clarity about the opportunities available to them, while both governments need a system that is orderly, workable and responsive to the needs of their economies,” he said.
Lesotho is also pressing for the commercialisation of the Tele and Sani Pass border crossings to be accelerated.
The two routes, situated in the south and east of the country respectively, could play a greater role in facilitating cross-border movement and trade if developed to support increased commercial activity.
Mr Tau said improving border infrastructure and operations should be treated as a priority because Lesotho’s economy was closely tied to South Africa.
He added that the government was open to discussing South Africa’s own economic interests in Lesotho, arguing that closer cooperation should deliver benefits to both countries.
“Lesotho recognises that South Africa also has interests and opportunities it may wish to pursue here. We are ready to listen to those proposals because we believe in reciprocity, co-development and shared prosperity,” he said.
Mr Tau said expanded employment opportunities for Basotho, improved access to international markets and more efficient cross-border trade could strengthen the economies of both countries.
“South Africa is our principal trading partner, and a stronger Lesotho economy would also benefit South African businesses. If our people have jobs and purchasing power improves, that creates opportunities for trade and investment on both sides of the border,” he said.
He said the proposed labour and migration arrangements, together with discussions on access to the sea, could mark a turning point in relations between the two countries.
“The issues we have raised are interconnected. We want to address historical grievances while building a relationship that supports economic growth, employment and greater prosperity for both nations. We believe this is an opportunity to move our relationship forward in a meaningful way,” Mr Tau said.
Lipholo’s warrant of arrest
Meanwhile, the LMPS has launched a manhunt for Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM) leader, Dr Tšepo Lipholo, after he allegedly disregarded his bail conditions.
The treason accused politician allegedly obtained his ordinary passport from the police last week on the understanding that he was going to neighbouring South Africa to consult his doctor.
Instead, police say they were shocked to learn that he had travelled to Israel to attend the International Ambassadors Summit in Jerusalem.
This then prompted the prosecution to petition the High court which then issued warrant for Dr Lipholo’s arrest on Tuesday.
Dr Lipholo is known for his controversial campaign to “reclaim” territory he argues belonged to Basutoland before independence in 1966, including parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
He also faces charges of sedition, human trafficking and insulting the Royal Family.
