South Africa and Lesotho Unite to Battle Illegal Mining

In a significant stride towards improved international relations and a combined effort against unlawful activities, South Africa and Lesotho have pledged to combat illegal mining. The announcement was made on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the bi-national commission in Pretoria.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho's Prime Minister Samuel Matekane expressed their commitment to bolster the relations between the two neighbouring countries. The issue of illegal mining came to light particularly after the unfortunate loss of lives at Harmony Gold Mine in Welkom. Both leaders acknowledged the emotional impact and sensitivity of the issue, particularly for the people of Lesotho, and assured their respective governments are working diligently to handle the situation effectively.

Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of South Africa's bilateral relations with Lesotho, describing their bond as one anchored in shared language, culture, heritage, and burgeoning economic ties. South African businesses have significantly contributed to job creation in Lesotho, while Lesotho’s water resources have been beneficial for South Africa.

The South African president also expressed appreciation for the collaboration on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, emphasizing its importance in enhancing water security in Gauteng province and other parts of South Africa, creating jobs, and contributing to infrastructure development. He lauded the project's potential for expanding access to previously unreachable parts of Lesotho.

The bi-national commission will serve as a dialogue platform for addressing mutual concerns, exploring new cooperative opportunities, and finding innovative solutions to common challenges. Areas like migration, trade, green energy, water resources, infrastructure development, transport, agriculture, mining, digital technologies, defence, and security will be closely looked at.