South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes

Date: 11 Jun 1981
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

South Africa and Lesotho decided to establish a consultative committee to resolve misunderstandings arising from the movement of people across their common border. The relationship between the two countries in 1970s and early 1980s was fraught with friction. This was the case particularly under government of Basutoland National party (BNP) led by Chief Leabua Jonathan who came to power as Prime Minister in 1966. For instance, Jonathan repeatedly criticised the South African government's policy of apartheid while declaring his support for the African National Congress (ANC). Five years later, January 1986 the South African Government closed its borders with Lesotho, cutting off fundamental food and fuel supplies.

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How we know this

01O’Malley, P. ‘1981’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za (Accessed: 16 May 2013)
02South African History Online, ‘South Africa closes its borders with Lesotho’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 16 May 2013)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, June 7). South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095840

South African History Online (2013) 'South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes', South African History Online, 7 June. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095840 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095840, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes." South African History Online, 7 June 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095840. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "South Africa and Lesotho establish a consultative committee to resolve border disputes." South African History Online. June 7, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095840.