The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed on Wednesday that recent media reports regarding passport-free movement of citizens between Lesotho and South Africa were incorrect.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela told Freight News that it appeared that “naughty politicians” had possibly spread false reports that citizens of the two countries would be able to travel across the border without passports from June 2022.
“It seems to be a popular message, but in SADC there is already free movement of people. People don’t need a visa to travel from Lesotho or Zimbabwe to South Africa, all you need is your passport,” Monyela said.
There had been incorrect media reports about travel between the two countries after the signing of a bilateral trade agreement last week, he added.
This was after SABC freelance journalist Rapelang Radepe tweeted: “Breaking News @LesothoPM confirms (at the ABC elective conference) that Lesotho and South Africa will sign a landmark bilateral free movement in June this year (2022).”
East Coast Radio in Durban repeated the factually incorrect statement in a broadcast.
However, Monyela was swift to respond on Twitter that this was incorrect.
“This is NOT true. The agreement signed by Min Pandor & her Lesotho counterpart has NOTHING to do with free movement of people. It’s to elevate the Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation to a Bi-National Commission at Heads of State level. Passports STILL required.”
