South Africa and Lesotho move closer to ID-only border travel

South Africa and Lesotho are considering a major border change that could allow travellers to cross using national identity documents instead of passports.

According to GroundUp, the proposal was announced by Lesotho’s Minister of Home Affairs, Lebona Lephema, after a meeting with South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber in Cape Town last week.

If implemented, it would mark one of the biggest travel changes between the neighbouring countries in years.

The South African has previously reported on a human rights group in Lesotho advocating for South Africa to do away with passport controls at the border of the landlocked mountain kingdom.

Lesotho and SA eye easier border travel

Officials said the proposed reforms would make travel between the two countries faster and easier.

Led by a joint research team, the new migration model is aimed at simplifying border movement and could also help ease Lesotho’s passport crisis.

“We recommended that the document to be used by both Basotho and South Africans when crossing the border should be the national identity card,” said Bertha Piletso, an immigration manager involved in the research team.

“In other words, if I am Mosotho, I will use my Lesotho ID to cross the border. Similarly, a South African will use their national ID.”

Currently, travellers need passports to cross the border, which can lead to delays and long queues.

The new system would reportedly use electronic gates. Travellers would scan their ID cards instead of being processed separately on each side.

Children under 16 would still need passports, as they do not qualify for national IDs. Passports would also remain necessary for onward international travel.

Amnesty proposal for some overstayers

GroundUp also reported that some Basotho who were banned from South Africa for overstaying could qualify for amnesty.

“We want these processes to begin on a clean slate,” said Puleng Mbangamthi, Lesotho’s Director of Legal Affairs.

“These are individuals who overstayed only, not those who committed crimes,” she said.

Those affected would first need to register with Lesotho immigration authorities, with their details then verified with South Africa.

Officials said not all changes would happen immediately. Some measures may be introduced soon, while others are expected to be discussed further at the next Bi-National Commission meeting later this year.

The talks also reportedly covered student visas, medical aid recognition and longer visitor stays through a possible electronic travel authorisation system.