South Africa and Lesotho are discussing a attainable border change that might in the end permit travellers to cross utilizing nationwide id paperwork as a substitute of passports.
In line with GroundUp, the proposal was introduced by Lesotho’s Minister of Residence Affairs, Lebona Lephema, after a gathering with South African Residence Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber in Cape City final week.
If carried out, it might mark one of many greatest journey modifications between the neighbouring international locations in years.
The South African has beforehand reported on human rights teams in Lesotho advocating for South Africa to dispose of passport controls on the border of the landlocked mountain kingdom.
Lesotho and SA eye simpler border journey
Led by a joint analysis group, the brand new migration mannequin goals to simplify border journey between the 2 international locations, whereas serving to to ease Lesotho’s passport disaster.
“We really helpful that the doc for use by each Basotho and South Africans when crossing the border ought to be the nationwide id card,” stated Bertha Piletso, an immigration supervisor concerned within the analysis group.
“In different phrases, if I’m Mosotho, I’ll use my Lesotho ID to cross the border. Equally, a South African will use their nationwide ID.”
At the moment, travellers want passports to cross the border, which may result in delays and lengthy queues.
The brand new system would reportedly use digital gates. Travellers would scan their ID playing cards as a substitute of being processed individually on both sides.
Kids below 16 would nonetheless want passports, as they don’t qualify for nationwide IDs. Passports would additionally stay mandatory for onward worldwide journey.
Amnesty proposal for some overstayers
GroundUp additionally reported that some Basotho who had been banned from South Africa for overstaying might qualify for amnesty.
“We would like these processes to start on a clear slate,” stated Puleng Mbangamthi, Lesotho’s Director of Authorized Affairs.
“These are people who overstayed solely, not those that dedicated crimes,” she stated.
These affected would first must register with Lesotho immigration authorities, with their particulars then verified with South Africa.
Officers stated not all modifications would occur instantly.
The talks additionally reportedly lined pupil visas, medical assist recognition and longer customer stays via a attainable digital journey authorisation system.
SA Residence Affairs says passports are STILL required
South Africa’s Division of Residence Affairs (DHA) has since pushed again towards stories that passport-free journey for Lesotho nationals has already been permitted.
In an announcement issued on Wednesday, 22 April, the division stated claims that Basotho can now enter South Africa utilizing solely nationwide ID playing cards are “false stories” and “misinformation.”
Residence Affairs stated no such settlement has been reached between the 2 international locations and careworn that present guidelines stay in place.
“The established order stays,” the division stated, including that Lesotho nationals and South African residents should nonetheless current legitimate passports when coming into or leaving via shared border posts.
The DHA did verify that ministers from each international locations met in Cape City to obtain suggestions from a joint activity group:
“Residence Affairs Ministers of Lesotho and South Africa met in Cape City, on 17 April 2026, to obtain a examine report from a joint activity group that was established to take a look at the event of a brand new migration mannequin. The Ministers had been directed by the Bi-Nationwide Fee between the 2 international locations to undertake the examine. This was the primary time that the end result of the examine was introduced to the Ministers with varied suggestions that are to be thought-about by the Bi-Nationwide Fee.”
