Maputsoe Border Post May Have to Reduce Operating Hours Soon 

The crime rate at the Maputsoe border post has led to recommendations that hours of  operation be reduced from the current 24 hours to between 0600hours  and 2200 hours, according to the Principal Secretary for Home affairs, Mr. Lefu Lehloba.

Speaking at a meeting with heads of department in the Leribe district on May 1, Mr. Lehloba said officials of the ministries of Home affairs from Lesotho and South Africa were currently holding negotiations on alternatives to reducing operating hours at the border crossing in view of the escalating crime rate in the area.

South Africa wanted the control of movement at the border after the Ficksburg Business Association had complained about criminal activity at the border post. Participants at the heads of department meeting also confirmed the high rate of crime at the border post, which they said is beyond control most nights

Members of the Leribe chamber of Commerce and the police were mandated the task of working out strategies to fight the scourge, while the District Secretary was asked to work on reestablishing the Ficksburg / Leribe liaison committee which it was hoped would help resolve  the problem.  

Another issue of concern was the large number of vendors from Lesotho selling their wares in the "no man's land" between the two border posts. A meeting had been called at the Sekekete Hotel on May 28 to get the vendors to evacuate the area, to no avail, the meeting was told. 

Mr. Lehloba is to hold similar meetings in Berea and Botha-Bothe.

02 June 2004