The Lesotho/Free State Border

This paper examines the role of South Africa’s borderline control in shaping relationships between who those who live and those who work on the bord

This paper examines the role of South Africa’s borderline control in shaping relationships between who those who live and those who work on the borderline between Lesotho and South Africa. It explores how South African labour market policy affects the participation of Basotho in various South African labour markets, particularly those on farms along the borderline. It discusses the presence of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on the borderline and highlights the complex and troubled history of the two neighbouring countries. Finally, this paper distils and sums up various observations and conclusions for the readers to make up their minds on the subject matter. 

About the author

Jonny Steinberg is a freelance journalist and researcher. His work in the fields of crime and criminal justice includes two books, Midlands (2002) and The number (2004), an edited collections of essays, Crime Wave (2001), and several monographs and papers. He has worked as a senior consultant at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in Johannesburg, and as a senior writer at Business Day. He has an MA in political studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and a doctorate in politics from Oxford University.