The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police through the Border Management Authority has extended the operating hours at the country’s ports of entry to cater for the anticipated influx of holidaymakers entering the country during the festive season.

Apart from the two commercial border gates, Maseru and Maputsoe which operate for 24 hours throughout the year, the rest of the border gates normally close at 22:00 hours.

However, beginning today up to December 24, Sani Pass will extend its operating hours from 06:00hrs to 20:00hrs while Caledonspoort Botha-Bothe will extend its operating hours from 06:00hrs to 00:00hrs (midnight), while on December 23, the border gate will be open for 24 hours to January 02.

The Van Royeen’s Gate in Mafeteng which is currently operating from 06:00hrs to midnight will and from December 23 open 24 hours while from December 24 to January 08 it will operate from 06:00hrs to 00:00hrs. On January 02, it will again open for 24 hours.

At Monontša border post, the changes in working hours have been set from 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs from December 23 to December 24 then from January 02 to January 18:00hrs.

The Ministry further noted that there will be no changes made in Qacha’s Nek, Sephapho, Ramatšeliso, Makhaleng and Tele bridges.

Meanwhile, Minister Lebona Lephema will be touring all the ports of entry to see how those services are going on Thursday.

Source: LENA 21/12/2023