The Kingdom of Lesotho is a landlocked country that relies on South Africa to access the international waters, through the Port of Durban. The country imports and exports 100% of its requirement through the Port of Durban. The Port of Durban, commonly called Durban Harbour, is the largest and busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. It handles up to 31.4 million tons of cargo each year. It is the fourth largest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, handling over 3 Million TEU in annually. The port of Durban operates on a common user basis and consists of five business units managed by Transnet Port Terminals or TPT [formerly known as SA Port Operations (SAPO)] - Durban Container Terminal (Africa's busiest), consisting of Pier 1 Container Terminal and the main Durban Container Terminal on Pier 2.  The Durban Ro-Ro Terminal handles roll-on, roll off traffic (automotive) in addition to breakbulk cargo and a certain amount of containers. There is also a multi purpose terminal at Maydon Wharf Terminal which also handles containers.

There are a number of other terminals in the port which are managed and operated by private companies, including the Bluff Coaling Terminal known as Bulk Connections, the large Island View oil and petroleum complex, often referred to as the Cutler Complex or simply as Island View, the Fresh Produce Terminal at the T-Jetty and another fruit terminal at Maydon Wharf, the Sugar Terminal and Wood Chip Terminal on Maydon Wharf, SA Bulk Terminals (Rennies) on both Maydon Wharf and Island View in addition to a number of other private facilities mostly at Maydon Wharf.

Currently the only terminal in Africa with tandem lift cranes with a carrying capacity of 80 tons at a time, DCT can handle new generation vessels with 24 containers stowed across the deck. Billions have been set aside for the terminal's re-engineering and boosting of existing equipment fleet. In March 2020 Durban Container Terminal was the first terminal in TPT to pioneer the Truck Appointment System to ease to container and truck traffic on Durban roads.​

2.1.1 South Africa Port of Durban - Logistics Capacity Assessment - Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments (logcluster.org)

Overview

Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/

The Kingdom of Lesotho has only one international airport, the King Moshoeshoe I International Airport ( the IATA: MSU, ICAO: FXMM) .The airport is situated in the town of Mazenod, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of downtown Maseru. 23 Department of Civil Aviation Lesotho 2013 LCA (Lesotho Kingdom Version 1.05 19/33). The runway length includes a 200 metres (660 ft) displaced threshold on Runway 04. The airport does not operate at night and no flights can therefore access Lesotho country after 6 pm. The Mazenod VOR-DME (Ident: MZV) is 2.0 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the approach threshold of Runway 04. The Beria non-directional beacon (Ident: ME) is 1.35 nautical miles (2.5 km) off the approach threshold of Runway 22.

The Aviation sector in Lesotho is regulated by the Department of Civil Aviation under the Public Works and Transport Ministry. The Department is tasked to provide for Control, Regulation and Development of Aviation in Lesotho and for other matters incidental in accordance to the Chicago Convention and the Transit Agreement – as enacted by the Country Aviation Act, 1975. ACT No 32 of 1975 p. 85 (Department of Civil Aviation, Lesotho, 2013). Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) operates as the service provider for airport operations. There are 19 Aerodromes / Airstrips owned by government and private entities in different parts of the country.

The Country observes all protocols and standards as per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or the Chicago Convention and Transit Agreement. The capacity of Lesotho’s Aviation industry remains limited, due to its size, available funding and its position/location as it is entirely encompassed by South Africa.

The defunct Lesotho Airways was a wholly owned government airline that operated out of the Maseru Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU). In 1997, Lesotho Airways was privatised but has since gone moribund and ceased to operate. There is currently no domestic airline in Lesotho. The aviation industry is dominated by South African based companies, which control most of the flights that operate in Lesotho. There are very few Lesotho based companies, most which will rely on the South African market.

Maluti Sky owned by MGC Aviation Matekane Group of Companies went under in 2016 due to financial issues and limited market in Lesotho. Halsted’s Aviation Corporation, provides charter services, the company is based in Zimbabwe. SA Airlink – Airlink, dominates commercial flights in Lesotho, operating daily flights between Maseru and South Africa daily.

The Lesotho Defence Force has a limited capacity through its Airwings unit owns two fixed wing and one Helicopter Bell 412 model.

Aviation public entities include:

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.

Passenger information

2017

2018

2019

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

Airworthiness and Engineering Inspectorate

Airworthiness Inspectorate is a subdivision of Flight Safety Division responsible for the airworthiness of all aircraft within Lesotho airspace and Lesotho registered aircraft wherever they may be. The Department of Civil Aviation is responsible for registration of aircraft, certification of aircraft and maintenance organizations. Scheduled and unscheduled audits are conducted to ensure that all maintenance activities and aircraft are compliant with all airworthiness requirements. The airworthiness section also maintains an airworthiness library/records, where every manuals and documents for every type of aircraft registered in Lesotho are available. (http://www.civilair.org.ls/indexcabc.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=114)

Airworthiness requirements

Aircraft Inspections

Services provided by the Airworthiness Section with regards to aircraft inspection are as follows: Carrying out aircraft inspections for the purposes of issuing Certificate of Registration. Carrying out aircraft inspections for the purposes of issuing Certificate of Airworthiness (initial issue and renewal). Aircraft inspections can be carried out locally and internationally. Issuance of Export Certificate of Airworthiness, Issuance of Flight Permits to certificated aircraft, Aircraft Maintenance Organizations: The Airworthiness Section carries out technical audits (inspections) on Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMO's), as stipulated in The Air Navigation Regulations 1980 as amended, that organizations working on Lesotho registered aircraft be approved by the Director of Civil Aviation.

Detailed procedures for licensing of AMOs are laid down in Safety Directive number 23 (Licensing of Aircraft Maintenance and Overhaul Organizations). The purposes of carrying out such inspections are: For initial issuance of maintenance approvals, For the renewal of such approvals, Ad hoc inspections to ensure that these organizations their work, capability and quality control comply with the requirements. Surveillance on the Aircraft Operator: As part of their mandate, the Airworthiness Section and Flight Operations Section have a   surveillance programme in place to ensure that aircraft operators comply with the applicable Civil Aviation Requirements.

The above is accomplished through: Carrying out both scheduled and unscheduled surveillance inspections Assisting Aircraft Operators with advice on how they can comply with provisions of Civil Aviation Requirements. Flight Safety Division: Airworthiness and Flight Operations whose main task is to ensure aviation safety in respect of personnel licensing, operations of aircraft and airworthiness of aircraft.

Airworthiness Records/library: Statutory Instruments concerning all aspects of documentations and manuals. The library/records also keeps various airworthiness directives from the manufacturers, the aircraft operators and the Civil Aviation Authorities.

• Airworthiness Directives
• Civil Aircraft Register
• Fees
• Forms and applications
• Manual of Procedures
• Licensing and Examinations
• Certificate of Airworthiness
• Appendix to the Issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness
• Certificate of Airworthiness
• Export Certificate of Airworthiness
• Special Flight Permit
• Noise Certification
• Aircraft Registration

Overview

The Kingdom of Lesotho has a largely rugged topography that has made development of road and other transport network a challenge. This has a significant implication for transport modes and accessibility throughout the country.  The creation of an integrated transport system remans central to the government’s infrastructure development program. The total road network in Lesotho is approximately 6906.26 kms in length of which 1798.76 kms are paved. The remainder is made up of 3830.52 km of gravel roads and 1276.98 km of earth tracks. Two agencies are responsible for management of the road network (Roads Directorate and the Ministry of Local Government (Urban and Rural)). Asset value of roads is 42 billion Maloti. Road maintenance technical needs was 2 billion Maloti (including administration, rehabilitation and maintenance) up to 2004 and has increased to 4 billion (include upgrading). Financing of maintenance is made through road fund consolidation and the GoL capital budget.

While passenger and cargo transport are provided largely by the private sector operator which includes buses, taxi and privately owned trucks, the Government provides a regulatory framework and policy to allow these industries to provide services. The Government is responsible for the Lesotho Freight and Bus Services which has been run down by inefficiency and poor management and been grounded. Due to challenging topography and infrastructure costs, some areas of the country do not have good roads network and there is no accessibility during bad weather, including rain and snow.

The Roads Directorate (RD) which is responsible for the regulatory framework and policy was established by legislation, Roads Directorate Act No. 16 of 2010 (through merging and restructuring former Roads Branch and Department of Rural Roads) to carry out road development and maintenance core functions of the road sub-sector. The changing needs of the economy and population of a country mean that strategies in any sub- sector need to be developed and regularly reviewed and updated as required. In democratic countries, the strategy review and development includes the views, knowledge and expertise of the role players in the sub-sectors.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Distance Matrix

The distances given below are from the capital city Maseru to major towns only and are over the most practicable routes; these are not necessarily the best or the fastest.

Road Security

In general, most roads within Lesotho are secure and transporters operate with few, if any, difficulties. There are no alarming cases of highway banditry and insecurity. Police patrols are visible and consistent along the main highways that link the main districts.

Driving is one of the biggest risks to personal safety and security. Vehicles traffic circulates on the left (keep left). Many vehicles are not roadworthy, and not all drivers are properly trained. The average speed limit in the cities is 50 km/hr and outside the city speed limit is 80 km/hr. However, most vehicle do not keep the speed limit. It is common to come up behind a vehicle moving at slower speed. Over speeding is also very common as the country traffic police do not have speed guns.

Other challenging factors include poorly lit roadways. Very few road signs on most of the highways. While many roads are in poor state of disrepair, inexperience and irresponsible drivers are also a great risk. All drivers should be aware of potholes and careless pedestrians, the presence of non-roadworthy vehicles plying the roads. The drivers frequently change the lanes into oncoming traffic without adequate viewing and caution. Street and traffic lights are frequently non-functional or nonexistence altogether.

The overall mission of the Ministry Transport and Communication is to formulate and monitor the implementation of appropriate, comprehensive and robust transport and construction sectors and maintain a dynamic and effective institutional and legal framework, which, provides an enabling environment for sustainable development of transport and construction industries and thus contribute to the achievement of the overall national development objectives.

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

The Ministry of Transport and Communication is yet to enact the Weighbridge and Axle Legislation. Since the neighbouring South Africa has Weighbridge legislation, most heavy vehicle in Lesotho Country will keep the maximum weigh applicable in South Africa. However this appears to have an impact on the Lesotho roads which are of lower capacity.

Source: https://lesothotradeportal.org.ls/kcfinder/upload/files/-%20Schedule%20No%201%20Part%203E.pdf

Road Reserve and Building Restriction Areas

To protect the investment in road building, a road reserve and, outside urban areas, a building restriction area should be located equally about the road centre-line, as shown in the table below

Note: The building restriction width includes the road reserve width. 

Of the total road network; the classified network is under the direct management of the Roads Directorate and is disbursed as follows per surface type:

Lesotho does not own any railway line in-country. The only railway line in Lesotho is the Maseru branch line, which connects the capital city Maseru to the railway network of South Africa via the Bloemfontein–Bethlehem line. The final 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) of this line, which opened on 18 December 1905, lies within the borders of Lesotho, running from the border bridge on the Mohokare River through the northern industrial district of Maseru to that city's station, the only railway station in the country.

There have been plans of building new railways to connect Lesotho to Durban and Port Elizabeth which have not been actualised or put in motion.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

A waterway is any navigable body of water and most rivers or water masses in Lesotho cannot therefore be classified as waterways. The waterway must allow for movement of goods and services that can ferry large vessels including ferries or large cargo and passengers’ boats. Rivers in Lesotho have less flowing water mass, since the country has created major water reservoirs in Katse and Mohale Dam. Dredged channels in the sea are not usually described as waterways. There is an exception to this initial distinction, essentially for legal purposes, see under international waters.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport owns and operates some ferryboats at river crossings. Private operators, working longer hours, complement these services.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.