The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations has expressed concern over delays in the issuance of study permits for Basotho students studying or intending to study in South Africa.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and international relations, Mr. Lejone Mpotjoane, Speaking at the Press Conference expressed that the unexpected delays were caused by technical challenges which affected the online system at the South African High Commission in Lesotho and the disruption has caused anxiety among students and parents, particularly as registration periods at various institutions in South Africa are already underway.
Mr. Mpotjoane stressed that upon becoming aware of the problem, the government through responsible departments engaged the South African High Commission in Lesotho to seek urgent solutions aimed at protecting the interests of Basotho students.
He added that as a temporary measure, it was agreed that the South African High Commission would issue an official letter requesting educational institutions in South Africa not to exclude disadvantaged Basotho students while the system challenges are being resolved.
The letter has since been circulated to various institutions, and students were advised to present it as proof that their study permit applications are being processed.
Minister Mpotjoane further revealed that he personally engaged his South African counterpart, who assured him that the matter would be prioritized and resolved urgently.
However, Mr. Mpotjoane confirmed that the Lesotho High Commissioner to South Africa reported that such a directive has been issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs within the last few hours and the South African High Commission in Lesotho has also confirmed that its system has been restored and is now operating satisfactorily to address the backlog, the Commission has extended working hours, while the South African Department of Home Affairs has committed to deploying additional staff to accelerate the processing of pending applications.
In conclusion Mr. Mpotjoane assured the public that Foreign Affairs will closely monitor the situation and work with all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the welfare and educational aspirations of Basotho students.
Source: LENA 28/01/2026
