Minister Dipuo Peters is set to meet with her Lesotho counterpart in an effort to resolve existing problems on taxi operations between South Africa and Lesotho. The meeting will take place in Maseru on Thursday, 19 June 2014.
Conflict between South African and Lesotho taxi operators have been raging on for some time. A joint discussion was held between transport agencies of both countries, with no resolutions found. It has become clear that there is a need for high-level intervention for both countries to find an amicable solution.
The latest effort from the Cross-Border Road Agency came after a report, on the 4th of June 2014, indicating that there was an illegal closure of the border, preventing transportation of people to and from both countries.
A working group was then established to deal with existing problems and deployment of an interim operational model to secure the safe and free flow of passengers and goods across the border. Despite this effort the impasse remains.
It is in this context that the high level meeting between the two ministers will take place. This in order not just to address the short-term deadlock of the cross-border operators, but also to secure bilateral relations found on the history and current sisterly relations between the two neighbouring Countries.
South Africa’s and Lesotho’s relations is embedded on economic movement of people. With Lesotho being a landlocked country transportation of goods and services from Lesotho to South Africa contribute enormously to both countries’ economies. The bilateral agreements between the two are a clear indication of the inextricable relations between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Saving and entrenching these economic, cultural, social and historical ties will be uppermost in the minds of the two Ministers, when they meet with their Transport Stakeholders and cross-border taxi operators on Thursday, 19 June 2014.
Members of media are invited to attend. Journalists attending are requested to confirm attendance with Ambassador Mahlomola J Khasu on 076 140 7006 or via e-mail on khasuJ@dot.gov.za.
Enquiries:
Jomo Khasu, Spokesperson for Minister of Transport
Cell: 076 140 7006
