Leribe – The Government of Lesotho has launched an operation to bring Basotho home from the Republic of South Africa following protests linked to the March and March movement.

About 22 buses were deployed to collect Basotho, mainly from Durban and transport them safely back to Lesotho.

The Lesotho News Agency observed the arrival of the buses on the night of June 29 at the Maputsoe Border Post. 

The operation was coordinated by the Lesotho Consulate in Welkom, the Disaster Management Authority (DMA), Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), the Immigration Department, South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Before entry into Lesotho, the passengers were taken to the Ficksburg Community Hall in South Africa, where the Border Management Authority assisted with passport processing.

They later crossed into Lesotho through the Maputsoe Border Post.

Speaking to LENA on Tuesday, DMA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Reatile Eliase said all buses were directed to use the Maputsoe Border Post following arrangements made by the Lesotho Consulate in Welkom to ensure the process was well coordinated and to avoid congestion at other border crossings.

He said Basotho without valid or expired passports were issued with Single Entry Transit documents to allow them to return home.

Mr. Eliase said those without passports and those who had overstayed in South Africa would have their fingerprints captured and recorded by the South African authorities. He noted that such individuals could face a five-year ban from entering South Africa, adding that the governments of Lesotho and South Africa would address the matter separately.

He further said two additional buses had been sent to Durban to collect more than 200 Basotho who had reportedly been locked inside factory hostels. According to Mr. Eliase, the factory owners had kept the workers inside for their safety, while SAPS later assisted in releasing them and arranging their evacuation.

Although government had provided transport to return Basotho home, he said many were likely to return to South Africa within a few weeks on their own.

Responding to concerns over the large number of Basotho without work permits, Mr. Eliase said it is the responsibility of the host country to issue such permits. He added that many Basotho do not meet all the requirements needed to obtain work permits.

Leribe District Disaster Manager Ms. Khopotso Rakolobe said her office had prepared to receive returning residents and ensure they were assisted on arrival. However, she said many travelled directly to their homes, while others waited for taxis at Maputsoe.

She said buses that had remained in South Africa were expected to arrive during the day and that the DMA team in Leribe would continue monitoring the operation.

Some of the returning Basotho said they had decided to come home because of safety concerns.

Mr. Teboho Kolumela, who has lived in Durban since 2008, said although he holds a valid passport and work permit, he chose to return to Lesotho because of the situation.

Another returnee, Mr. Ts'epang Mojeoa, said he had been trying unsuccessfully to obtain a work permit since arriving in Durban in 2015. He appealed to the Lesotho Government to engage the South African Government on the issue, saying many Basotho struggle to secure legal documentation beyond the three-month visitor's period.

Mrs. Makhothatso Sepinare also said she lost her job at a factory in Durban because she did not have a work permit. She said she had been trying to obtain one since 2016 without success.

Leribe District Administrator Mr. Letsema Khalanyane was present at the Maputsoe Border Post throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning to oversee the operation together with officials from the DMA and other stakeholders.

The Match and Match movement is a South African citizen-led organisation that campaigns against undocumented foreign nationals. The group has organised marches and called for undocumented migrants to leave the country, while also threatening action against businesses believed to employ illegal immigrants.

Image by Sowetan