Maseru — Hon. Machesetsa Mofomobe, leader of the Basotho National Party (BNP) and a long-standing figure in Lesotho’s political arena, delivered one of the most uncompromising speeches in recent parliamentary memory on 14 August 2025. Speaking from the floor of the National Assembly, Mofomobe declared, “Basotho face in South Africa what Palestinians face in Israel.”
The remark drew immediate attention for its sharpness and the weight of the comparison. In his view, the way South African authorities handle Basotho migrant workers, traders, and travellers mirrors the restrictive and at times humiliating treatment Palestinians encounter when navigating Israeli-controlled borders and policies.
A Call for a Different Immigration Model
At the heart of Mofomobe’s speech was a policy demand. He urged the Government of Lesotho to negotiate a unique immigration arrangement with South Africa, one that reflects Lesotho’s singular geographic situation.
Lesotho is not just a neighbour to South Africa. It is an enclave, entirely surrounded by its larger neighbour. This means the movement of Basotho across the border is not occasional but part of the country’s daily economic lifeline. Thousands of Basotho cross into South Africa every day for work, trade, education, and healthcare.
Currently, South Africa issues a three-year special permit to certain neighbouring states. Mofomobe argued that this one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate for Lesotho.
“We are not Botswana, we are not Namibia, we are not Mozambique. Our people live in a different reality. To subject Basotho to the same restrictive permit regime is unjust and unworkable,” he told Lesotho Tribune.
“South Africa cannot continue to mistreat us under a blanket policy that disregards our reality,” he added.
Mofomobe called for a permanent dispensation that recognises Lesotho’s position. Such a deal, he said, would go beyond the temporary and cumbersome permit processes and instead allow for freer, regulated movement that respects the deep historical, economic, and social integration of the two countries.
The Israel–Palestine Analogy
By comparing Basotho in South Africa to Palestinians under Israeli policy, Mofomobe was making more than a rhetorical flourish. He was highlighting the daily human impact of restrictive movement controls.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza face checkpoints, border controls, and permit requirements that often disrupt their ability to work, study, and access medical care. Mofomobe sees echoes of this in how South African immigration enforcement operates for Basotho, including the frequent deportations of those without the correct paperwork, the costs and bureaucracy of renewing permits, and the constant uncertainty for workers.
“This is not about exaggeration,” he said talking to Lesotho Tribune.
“It is about naming a reality that has been normalised. If we are not careful, this will become a permanent state of subjugation for Basotho.”
Machesetsa Mofomobe: A Political Profile
Machesetsa Mofomobe is no stranger to headline-making statements. Born in 1976, he emerged from the youth structures of the Basotho National Party in the late 1990s, quickly gaining a reputation for his outspoken style and direct language.
His political career has spanned both opposition and government roles. He served as Minister of Small Businesses, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, positions that placed him at the centre of migration policy, border security, and national identity issues. During his ministerial tenure, he clashed with South African officials over cross-border regulations, advocating consistently for Basotho workers’ rights.
Critics have accused him of using populist tactics, but even they concede his political stamina and deep understanding of Lesotho’s security and migration dynamics. Supporters see him as a fearless defender of Basotho dignity and sovereignty, a politician unafraid to confront Pretoria even when diplomatic convention advises caution.
In Parliament, Mofomobe is known for interventions that cut through long debates with blunt assessments. His choice of the Israel–Palestine analogy is in keeping with his record of framing domestic issues within broader global moral narratives.
Historical Context: Lesotho’s Economic Dependence on South Africa
Lesotho’s economic and social dependence on South Africa is rooted in history. The migrant labour system that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries drew tens of thousands of Basotho men into South African mines. These jobs became a central source of income for Lesotho’s households.
While the mining sector has contracted in recent decades, the pattern of migration has persisted. Today, Basotho workers are found in South African farms, factories, retail stores, and homes as domestic workers. Cross-border informal trade is also a significant survival strategy, especially for women traders.
For many Basotho, daily life is structured around this constant movement. This is why restrictive immigration rules, even if administratively routine for South Africa, can have profound consequences for Lesotho’s economy and social stability.
South Africa’s Stance Abroad Versus Its Policies at Home
Mofomobe’s remarks also highlight a diplomatic irony. South Africa has positioned itself as a leading global voice for Palestinian rights. In 2023, it brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention. Pretoria’s leaders have invoked South Africa’s own history of apartheid to frame their moral and legal arguments.
Yet, as Mofomobe pointed out, South Africa’s approach to Lesotho’s migration issues seems to contradict the values it champions abroad. While defending the free movement and dignity of Palestinians, South Africa enforces rigid rules on Basotho, whose entire country lies within its borders and whose economic survival often depends on crossing into South Africa.
The Cost of the Status Quo
For Basotho workers, the current permit system is expensive and unpredictable. Application fees, travel costs for renewals, and periods of unemployment while awaiting documentation all take their toll. Deportations are common, even for minor infractions like overstaying by a few days.
The effects ripple across communities in Lesotho. Families lose income, small businesses struggle when traders are delayed at borders, and the health system is strained when patients cannot reach South African facilities for specialised care.
International Parallels
Lesotho is not the only enclaved or near-enclaved nation facing such challenges. Examples include San Marino within Italy and the Vatican City within Rome, both of which have open-border agreements with their surrounding country. Andorra, located between Spain and France, also benefits from freer movement arrangements.
Mofomobe argues that Lesotho should pursue a similar model, one that recognises the country’s dependence on South African infrastructure, markets, and services. Such arrangements could include biometric identification systems for cross-border movement, simplified work authorisations, and mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications.
The Political Road Ahead
Whether the Lesotho government takes up Mofomobe’s call is an open question. Immigration policy touches on sensitive issues in South Africa, including domestic labour market concerns and political pressure from anti-immigrant groups.
Lesotho has often taken a cautious approach, seeking to maintain strong diplomatic and economic ties with Pretoria. However, public sentiment within Lesotho is increasingly vocal about the need for a more dignified arrangement for its citizens in South Africa.
Conclusion
Hon. Machesetsa Mofomobe’s speech has injected urgency and moral clarity into Lesotho’s immigration debate. By comparing Basotho’s treatment in South Africa to that of Palestinians in Israel, he has challenged both governments to confront uncomfortable truths.
For Lesotho, the challenge will be to push for a new deal without jeopardising its essential relationship with South Africa. For South Africa, the challenge will be to reconcile its moral stance on global justice with the practical and human realities on its own doorstep.
What is certain is that Mofomobe’s intervention has made it harder to ignore the question of how Basotho are treated in South Africa. The political and economic stakes are too high, and the moral stakes, in his words, are plain for all to see.
