The government has vowed to defend South Africa’s territorial integrity as Lesotho discusses a motion to “reclaim” parts of the country as its territory.
“Around the discussions taking place in Lesotho, the simple and straightforward issue is that South Africa has its defined borders and a responsibility to protect its territorial integrity and the borders are known internationally,” said minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday.
“We will allow the parliament of Lesotho to decide what they discuss, but the territorial integrity of South Africa will never be threatened. So, everybody can sleep peacefully,” she added.
Ntshavheni was responding to journalists’ questions about a debate in the Lesotho parliament on Wednesday on reclaiming parts of South Africa as Lesotho territory.
A Lesotho MP, Tsepo Lipholo, proposed a debate to declare the Free State, parts of the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal as part of that country.
Lipholo argued the land belonged to Lesotho and was taken by the apartheid government.
Basotho are being oppressed in South Africa on their own land with the help of its own people-politicians.
— Lesotho MP, Nkaku Kabi
The Sowetan reported Lipholo’s ambitious motion received the backing of two MPs, including Nkaku Kabi, the leader of the former governing All Basotho Convention, who publicly associates with the fugitive leader of zama zama gang Sarel Sello.
Kabi said South Africa should have allowed free movement rather than tell people the exercise is futile and impractical.
According to the paper, during the debate on Wednesday Lipholo said it was “unfair and unjust that Lesotho has only 30,000km², while 240,000km² have been taken by South Africa”.
“Basotho are being oppressed in South Africa on their own land with the help of its own people-politicians,” he said.
“This matter is sensitive and can’t just be argued based on hearsay evidence, hence I have brought all the reference material which will justify my argument based on historical, political and legal evidence on how we got to where we are today.
“It is on this basis that I beg of this house to declare the initial and true boundaries of this country which are from Tugela River along Bergville, Newcastle, Standerton to Sasolburg, Kimberley and beyond Orania, Aliwal North to Port St Johns, Kokstad ... and I would like you all to visit these places so that you will know what I am referring to.
“All that Moshoeshoe wanted was for Lesotho to be protected and not be oppressed as is happening.”
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