• Lesotho has rekindled moves to implement localisation rules for certain types of businesses dominated by foreigners.
• Indians, Chinese and South Africans dominate the 47 reserved businesses.
• SA firms will be under pressure to use local distributors, and not contract Basotho labour via SA-based agents.
Lesotho has restarted a plan to act against foreign-owned businesses, and to pressure South African companies to work via Basotho-owned distributors.
The kingdom created new regulations in 2021 that could see foreign-owned businesses kicked out, but has been moving slowly on implementation for fear of paralysing the smallest economy in the region.
A list of 47 business types, from general dealers to barbers, are reserved for locals under those rules.
On Friday, Trade and Industry Minister Mokhethi Shelile told the National Assembly that an inspection in Maseru in June found that the overwhelming majority of businesses in areas reserved for locals were in the hands of foreigners.
`A total of 106 businesses were inspected and 80 belonged to foreigners. The foreign-owned businesses account for 90% of the jobs in this sector,` he said.
In Maseru, Chinese and Indian owners dominated.
Their businesses were also far more likely to employ foreigners; foreign-owned businesses employed 119 expatriates, while Basotho-owned businesses employed only four foreigners between them, Shelile said.

This is a general view of dried-up crops in vegetable gardens at Lipelaneng in Butha-Buthe District. According to the government around 700 000 people are fighting hunger, which in July was declared a national disaster over

threatened food security. (Phill Magakoe/AFP)
The government said it was seeing people from countries other than China and India move into sectors such as retail, and that it was seeing an increase in newly naturalised owners.
`There are 13 businesses whose owners were naturalised,` Shelile said, adding that there was a likelihood the figure would increase because others claimed they were naturalised and said they would bring their documentation.
Shelile said the government had urged South African firms, mostly in the retail sector, to enlist local distributors.
The government wants to see about 800 SA businesses do such deals, covering 80% of imported goods.
The government also wants to end the practice of locals being employed by third-party agents in South Africa, who then provide their services to South African companies required to employ Basotho people.
The Minister of Trade, Industry & Business Development, Hon Mokhethi Shelile, emphasized the importance of horticulture in market diversification and export promotion during His Majesty’s King Letsie III’s Mahobong project visit. pic.twitter.com/n2125McsRm
That system means taxes go to South Africa rather than Lesotho, Shelile explained.
`Sales commissions that are paid to these sales representatives and foreign agents attract tax in South Africa, not Lesotho. Youth unemployment is very high and government debt is very high,` he said.
A similar inspection was done in Leribe in mid-August, and another is due in Mafeteng this month. V.5587

Germany`s Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Kenya`s President William Ruto signed the deal in Berlin Germany has agreed to open the doors to 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers in a controlled and targeted labour migration deal. Kenya is struggling with increasing difficulties in providing work and sufficient income for its young professionals, while Germany is facing a shortage of skilled labour. V.5609
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BEIJING - China said it would gradually raise its statutory retirement age, as the country grapples with a looming demographic crisis and an older population. Hundreds of millions of people in China are set to enter old age in the coming decades while the birth rate dwindles dramatically. V.5610
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A surprise inspection at a Pretoria restaurant resulted in the arrest of two foreign national employees who allegedly did not have documentation to be in the country. (Alex Mitchley/News24) • The Department of Labour has conducted a `blitz` inspection at a restaurant in Menlyn. • The surprise inspection came after a complaint alleging the flouting of labour practices by a former employee that started making the rounds on social media. • One of the restaurant owners dismissed the allegations. V.5611
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The Western Cape High Court has temporarily stopped the initiation of any process to deport a foreign national who has indicated an intent to apply for asylum, until their application has been finalised. • The Western Cape High Court has temporarily halted the initiation of any process to deport a foreign national who has indicated an intent to apply for asylum, until their application has been finalised. • The interim interdict will remain in place pending the outcome of the main court application brought by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town. • The court is expected to hear that main challenge in February 2025. V.5612
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South Africa’s plan to attract more professionals to its skills-starved economy through the introduction of a so-called nomad visa for remote workers has been slowed by the need to amend tax regulations. The impediment comes after an initial delay when changes to the visa regime had to be temporarily withdrawn because mandatory public consultation procedures hadn’t been followed. V.5613
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Illegal land occupation has been a very big problem in Pretoria east for decades now, with the evolution of more than two informal settlements, with dwellers being illegal immigrants. Tshwane metro will look to work with Home Affairs to combat illegal land occupation, illegal immigration and theft, according to FF Plus councillor and MMC for community safety in Tshwane, Grandi Theunissen. V.5607
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The City of Tshwane’s fight against hijacking of inner-city buildings could soon take a new turn aimed at deporting illegal immigrants likely to be found guilty of invading those properties. This comes after MMC for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, also FF Plus councillor, indicated that the municipality and the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, agreed to join hands in addressing the problem. V.5608
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The departments of Home Affairs and Basic Education deployed mobile units to 1 625 school nationwide to assist young people in rural areas. The Department of Home Affairs is on a drive to assist young people get their IDs. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education, mobile units have scoured the nation’s schools to provide DHA services. V.5603
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South Africa is set to simplify travel for Indian tourists by introducing a 90-day visa waiver starting in January 2025. Along with the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, these initiatives aim to streamline the visa process and boost tourism significantly. Great news for travelers from India and China! South Africa is taking significant steps to attract more Indian tourists by introducing a 90-day visa waiver starting in January 2025. The new policy aims to simplify travel for Indian visitors and is expected to increase the number of tourists from India. V.5604
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Kuwait’s Central Agency for Remedying Illegal Residents’ Status (CARIRS) has revoked the citizenship of more than 10,000 people with dual nationality between 2011 and last month, the KUNA news agency has reported. According to the agency, the step is the result of a full decade of Kuwaiti efforts to address the dual nationality file, and comes as a culmination of a campaign that began last year to confront those who obtain Kuwaiti citizenship illegally. V.5605
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