‘90-Day Visa exemption falls short’

RETHABILE MOHONO

MASERU – South Africa’s recent decision to extend visa-free entry for Basotho nationals from 30 to 90 days is being hailed as a diplomatic milestone, but economic stakeholders and migration experts say the policy fails to address the core challenges facing Lesotho’s struggling workforce.

While the agreement has potential to improve trade and travel between the two countries, business and labour observers warn that it offers little value to the thousands of Basotho who enter South Africa in search of employment, particularly in domestic work, agriculture, and mining.

Lerato Nkhetše, Director of the Migrant Workers Association of Lesotho, says the arrangement lacks substance for the majority of Basotho crossing the border out of economic necessity.

“While it is seen as a good move, the arrangement does not solve anything because Basotho do not normally go into South Africa to visit their loved ones. Instead, they go because they want jobs,” he said in an interview.

“90 days means nothing for those who are working in that country,” he emphasized.

Nkhetše pointed out that the ongoing shortage of passports and the absence of streamlined work permit procedures continue to expose Basotho workers to arrest, exploitation, and deportation.

This, he added, stifles their economic contributions both to Lesotho and the South African sectors they serve.

The visa-free extension was confirmed by South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr Lon Schreiber, following the Second Session of the South Africa-Lesotho Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in April 2025.

The new policy allows Basotho passport holders to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa but with conditions.

Schreiber warned that the exemption could be revoked if Lesotho is found to be a conduit for illegal migration from third countries, prompting calls for the Lesotho government to enhance its border control measures.

This comes after Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane’s administration, repeatedly called on South Africa to implement the visa deal by May 1, 2025.

At the BNC session held in Maseru in April, Matekane lamented the delay: “Despite our repeated affirmations and the anxiety of the people from South Africa and Lesotho about the 90-day visa arrangement, implementation has not yet commenced.”

He acknowledged that while exemption permits for Basotho workers in South Africa had been extended, the application process remains riddled with inefficiencies.

The Bi-National Commission also explored infrastructure solutions to facilitate smoother trade, including a pilot One Stop Border Facility at the Maseru-Ficksburg crossing. The initiative, which integrates customs, immigration, and health checks in a single location, has been deemed a success and could be scaled up to improve cargo and commuter flow.

South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, reinforced his government’s commitment to secure yet cooperative border management.

“We must harmonise measures for the movement of our citizens and address cross-border criminal activities that undermine our shared prosperity,” he said.

The broader economic implications of the visa exemption are mixed. While it may ease short-term visits for businesspeople and students, the 90-day limit remains impractical for long-term workers, who contribute significantly to South Africa’s informal and semi-formal sectors.

Domestic worker, ‘Malehlohonolo Molati, currently stranded in Lesotho, highlighted one of the policy’s most pressing limitations: passport accessibility.

“Most of us are unable to go back to South Africa because we don’t have passports. If the government can make it easier for us to obtain them, then I think most problems between Lesotho and South Africa could be avoided,” she said.

Lesotho’s chronic passport shortages have hamstrung economic migration, and without affordable, timely access to travel documents, the 90-day exemption may remain symbolic for the working class.

The long-term goal for both nations, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is a comprehensive, enclave-sensitive migration model. Such a framework would formally recognize Lesotho’s unique status as a landlocked country within South Africa and create legal pathways for labour migration.

Until then, experts argue that systemic gaps such as delays in permit issuance, passport bottlenecks, and enforcement inconsistencies will continue to hinder the policy’s economic impact.

“This deal may help job seekers and students to some extent, but for those who are already employed and contributing to both economies, it offers no real protection,” Nkhetše said.

As Lesotho grapples with high unemployment and a dependence on remittances, the effectiveness of the 90-day exemption may ultimately depend on whether it evolves into a gateway for formal, dignified employment or remains a temporary fix for a deeply rooted economic challenge.