South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has acceded to a request by the Lesotho authorities to extend the closing date of applications for Lesotho Special Permits (LSP) to allow more time for Basotho nationals to apply for permits, it was announced on Tuesday.

The closing day for applications has been extended from June 30, 2016 to September 30, 2016, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said.

"The extension to the end of September will assist in mitigating challenges making it difficult for people to seize the opportunity to regularise their stay in South Africa, but we urge people to apply without any further delay," Gigaba said.

The LSP is issued under the special dispensation for Lesotho nationals who work, study or do business in South Africa and had been in the country in such capacity before September 30, 2015. Special permits are issued only to Lesotho citizens registered in the National Population Register of Lesotho. The LSP programme was launched on February 1, 2016.

The LSP, valid until December 31, 2019, is designed to strengthen close kinship ties South Africa and Lesotho share while allowing for Lesotho nationals to live in South Africa legally, the DHA said.

Those with appropriate documents will contribute to the two countries' economic development and growth, including through taxes in South Africa and remittances back home, said the department.

It's estimated that over 400, 000 Lesotho nationals stand to benefit from this initiative. Endit

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