South Africa’s immigration authorities have processed more than 45,000 undocumented migrants as part of an ongoing repatriation initiative, according to reporting by SABC News. The scale of the operation raises concerns for Lesotho, whose citizens represent a significant portion of foreign workers in South African mines, farms, and service sectors.
Lesotho’s economy depends heavily on remittances sent home by migrant labourers working across the border. A large-scale deportation affecting undocumented Basotho workers could disrupt household incomes and foreign exchange flows into the country. Labour analysts and policymakers will be monitoring how the repatriation process unfolds and whether bilateral agreements between the governments will protect Lesotho’s documented workforce or accelerate departures.
