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Sept. 25, 2021

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

Border gate staff warned to be vigilant

Border gate staff warned to be vigilant

Story highlights

    Foreigners illegally use Lesotho as conduit to other places
    Govt works tirelessly to prevent human trafficking

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MOTLALENTOA Letsosa, the Minister of Home Affairs has appealed to staff at the Sani Pass border post in Mokhotlong to strengthen cooperation and team work in a bid to prevent human trafficking and protect Basotho from the scourge.

Sani Pass, a mountain pass between Lesotho and Kwazulu-Natala, South Africa is situated at the 2 876-metre summit of southern Africa’s most famous and challenging road pass, the Sani Top.

The Minister was addressing public servants drawn from different Government Ministries and Departments who are deployed at the Sani Pass gate on Thursday.
Human trafficking with its numerous definitions is described as the process of trapping or trading people through the use of violence, deception or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal gain of the traffickers.
Mr Letsosa said the Government is working tirelessly to prevent the crime, adding that tough measures have been implemented at all major ports of entry into Lesotho, especially the Moshoeshoe I International Airport.

This, after the Government realised that a lot of human trafficking occurs through the airport.
“The ministry has also realised that there are many foreigners who illegally use Lesotho as a conduit to other countries through the airport. It is therefore important for staff at the Sani Pass border to remain vigilant at all times when foreigners enter the border,” the Minister said.

He added: “We suspect people with hidden agendas might travel on roads and use the border posts to enter into the country, hence the campaign to make the staff aware should such acts happen.”

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Speaking at the same occasion, the officer in charge of Sani Pass police post, Sub Inspector Senokoane Makoala said they need protective clothing to keep warm against the cold weather conditions in the area.

“We cannot operate as effective as we should when we are always feeling cold and without transport,” he said.

Another important issue that he raised was the undistinguishable boundary line between Lesotho and South Africa, saying it should be identified and addressed by relevant authorities.
“We have no idea where the Lesotho boundary ends because the eight-kilometre distance between the two borders is being claimed by our South African counterparts,” Sub Insp Makoala also said. LeNA

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