Lesotho and South Africa have agreed to work towards the establishment of technical cooperation in environmental issues such as on the Sehlabathebe National Park, on recycling and on empowering communities. 

A meeting between Minister responsible for the Environment, Ms. Lebohang Ntšinyi and South African Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, in Maseru on September 28, agreed that the two countries will cooperate in tackling environmental pollution as well as on creating jobs for locals. 

Lesotho felt that South Africa could assist it in waste recycling to help lessen what has become a national problem, soft drinks and beer cans littering the country. People need to be made aware that they can turn waste into money whilst at the same time fighting pollution. 

People can start SMMEs from waste, Minister Mabudafhasi, pointed out, with one collecting the different types of waste, such as glass, cans and other biodegradable material and another business being started to recycle the waste. Waste can create jobs, she said. 

The two countries can also cooperate in the tourism sector, taking advantage of the 2010 Games and empower local communities by training them on how to establish and run Bed and Breakfast businesses. These could be supplied by community gardens established especially for this purpose, creating money and employment for locals. 

The meeting also realised that the South African side of the Sehlabathebe National Park, Ukahlamba, has been declared a heritage site and that the whole needed to be recognised. They would also look at improving the Park, opening it up so that wild life can cross from one side to the other freely. 

The opening up of the Park would help the animals avoid the very cold winters in Lesotho by migrating to the other side and doing the reverse in summer. 

11 July 2005