The Department of Home Affairs has dismissed circulating reports that citizens of Lesotho can enter South Africa using only national ID cards, confirming that no such agreement exists and passports remain mandatory.
In a statement issued recently, the department said it is “concerned” about what it described as unfounded media reports and social media claims suggesting a major shift in cross-border travel rules. According to officials, these claims are false and misleading.
Current law remains unchanged. In terms of Section 9 of the Immigration Act of 2002, all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must be in possession of a valid passport. Authorities stressed that allowing entry without passports would be unlawful and cannot be implemented without legislative amendments.
The confusion appears to stem from a recent bilateral engagement between the two countries. Home Affairs ministers from Lesotho and South Africa met in Cape Town on 17 April 2026 to receive a report from a joint task team exploring a possible new migration model. However, officials clarified that this was only a preliminary discussion stage.
No agreement has been reached, and no policy changes have been approved.
The department further explained that any move to relax passport requirements would require a formal legislative process involving parliament. At present, no such process is underway, meaning the existing travel rules remain fully in force.
For communities along the Lesotho–South Africa border, including many in the Eastern Cape and Free State with close family and economic ties across the boundary, the clarification is significant. Cross-border travel continues to require full compliance with immigration laws, and failure to present a valid passport could result in denied entry or legal consequences.
Officials from the Department of Home Affairs have urged the public to stop spreading misinformation.
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