15 August 2025 by Limpho Sello

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“Basotho should be allowed to seek healthcare in South Africa, just as we provide services to South Africans living in Lesotho,” Minister of Health Selibe Mochoboroane declared as he addressed the media on 14 August 2025.

Mochoboroane had just returned from Pretoria, where he met with his South African counterpart Dr Aaron Motsoaledi at the Department of Health headquarters on 13 August. The talks followed disturbing reports of foreigners—including Basotho citizens—being denied treatment in South Africa’s public hospitals.

The main culprit behind the denial of services was a group calling itself *Operation Dudula*, known for targeting foreign nationals living in South Africa. “We decided to open talks with the South African government through the Departments of International Relations and Health because we have bilateral relations that must be respected,” he explained.

According to Mochoboroane, the meeting was arranged after an exchange of letters between the two ministers.

 “One of the key issues we discussed was the welfare of Basotho living in South Africa and their access to healthcare services,” he said, noting that health cooperation between the two ministries is already guided by existing agreements.

Acknowledging Motsoaledi

He added that Dr Motsoaledi acknowledged the strain on South Africa’s health system, which serves high numbers of foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, Congolese, Pakistanis, Nigerians, and Basotho.

“Like any other country, South Africa has its challenges—unemployment being one of them. There was a time they came to Lesotho to recruit mine workers, but those days are gone,” Mochoboroane said.

Despite these pressures, the Minister stressed that South Africa’s constitution does not permit anyone seeking treatment to be turned away. “The problem is that some political movements, including Operation Dudula, are pushing anti-immigration sentiments, and in some cases, they’ve even made it to Parliament,” he warned.

Mochoboroane said he was encouraged by Dr Motsoaledi’s public statement—made just a day before their meeting—condemning the denial of healthcare to foreigners.

 “We agreed that Basotho should continue to have access to health services in South Africa, just as we treat South Africans working at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project at Polihali,” he said.

However, the minister stressed that the long-term solution lies within Lesotho itself. “If another country is burdened by populations from outside, the solution is not to keep relying on them. We must create jobs here so our people don’t have to migrate in search of opportunities,” he said.

In 2024, Lesotho Labour Force Survey Report indicated that the country’s overall unemployment rate at 30.1 percent. The rate is even higher for people aged between 15 and 35 at 38 percent.

Lesotho referrals to South Africa

Mochoboroane also clarified that the referral agreement between Lesotho and South Africa for specialised medical cases remains active. “We still send patients to South Africa, but we are working to reduce these referrals by strengthening our services at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH),” he said.

Plans are underway to repurpose a building at QMMH—originally meant as a private wing—into a specialised services unit.

“This is at an advanced stage, and once open, it will provide the same services our patients currently receive in South Africa. We must stop being a nation that constantly crosses the border for help and instead build systems that can serve our own people,” Mochoboroane concluded.