Lesotho border patrol
09 Jun 2011 08:26 #3097
by Scag
Replied by Scag on topic Lesotho border patrol
I went to Cobham in March, and while I was there I observed a day of military helicopters flying low in and out of valleys. They appeared to be training.
I also noticed that at the airfield one passes on the way to Cobham, there is now a permanent military base on premises.
I also noticed that at the airfield one passes on the way to Cobham, there is now a permanent military base on premises.
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09 Jun 2011 09:16 - 09 Jun 2011 09:16 #3101
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Lesotho border patrol
The Airforce choppers in the Berg will probably be perceived as a threat by the smugglers but I would be (pleasantly!) surprised if the purpose of the chopper deployment goes beyond training. The Airforce has long trained in the Berg. I remember a great photo from the 1980s of an Alouette with its nose-wheel balancing on Devil's Tooth. And of course the Airforce has been involved in many a Berg rescue.
Last edit: 09 Jun 2011 09:16 by tiska.
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11 Jun 2011 18:37 - 11 Jun 2011 18:38 #3118
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Lesotho border patrol
While it remains to be seen, I can't imagine them having much impact on our activities in the Berg. The Free State - Lesotho border is definitely what they will focus on for now, see:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/blog/20-drakensberg/security/192-lesotho-border-to-be-patrolled-by-sandf-once-again.html
The SANDF has previously patrolled the Drakensberg anyway (currently it is a special police unit). The only impact it had on us was that they used Thuthumi Lookout Hut, Wilsons Cave, Halfway Cave and Thamathu Cave - and they were not to happy about sharing these with us, as was my experience more than once. But they were friendly for the most part and their concern was the Basotho - they didn't worry about hikers on the escarpment (they are there to protect South Africa, after all). Actually, the Lesotho Mounted Police are more the ones to think about when walking around up there, if you every encounter them. Theoretically they could ask you to present your passport, though they don't always do that.
www.vertical-endeavour.com/blog/20-drakensberg/security/192-lesotho-border-to-be-patrolled-by-sandf-once-again.html
The SANDF has previously patrolled the Drakensberg anyway (currently it is a special police unit). The only impact it had on us was that they used Thuthumi Lookout Hut, Wilsons Cave, Halfway Cave and Thamathu Cave - and they were not to happy about sharing these with us, as was my experience more than once. But they were friendly for the most part and their concern was the Basotho - they didn't worry about hikers on the escarpment (they are there to protect South Africa, after all). Actually, the Lesotho Mounted Police are more the ones to think about when walking around up there, if you every encounter them. Theoretically they could ask you to present your passport, though they don't always do that.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 11 Jun 2011 18:38 by intrepid.
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11 Jun 2011 19:22 #3119
by Scag
Replied by Scag on topic Lesotho border patrol
Do you guys always take your passport with you when walking along the escarpment?
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12 Jun 2011 20:47 #3124
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Lesotho border patrol
Rightly or wrongly, I have never considered, or ever taken my passport when hiking into Lesotho. Just not something i thought about.
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13 Jun 2011 07:53 #3127
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Lesotho border patrol
On normal escarpment trips I don't take my passport along. If a planned diversion into Lesotho is planned then I do e.g. Yodler's Cascades, Thabana Ntlenyana and Makheka. The likelihood of encountering police there is remote, and that they will ask you for it, even less. Also, hikers are not the problem, smugglers are. You never know though.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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14 Feb 2012 11:14 - 14 Feb 2012 11:18 #53050
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Lesotho border patrol
State failing in duty on Lesotho border – Free State farmersFree State farmers are again headed for court over what they describe as a chaotic situation along the rugged Lesotho border. The Afrikaans daily, Beeld, reports today that the government has failed to live up to its undertakings in a June 2010 settlement that was made an order of court.
“Although the government has complied with certain aspects of the original agreement, it is not living up to its responsibility to protect border farmers. A fence was erected, but it doesn't help if it is not protected. It won't even help if you built a wall here, because they will break it down.”
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 14 Feb 2012 11:18 by intrepid.
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03 May 2013 05:44 #56797
by HFc
Replied by HFc on topic Lesotho border patrol
As per the link to News24
www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cops-bust-dagga-carrying-donkey-trains-20130502
I am of the conviction that this is the right thing given the social problem that dagga has been, however this may impact on the safety of hiking on the escarpment. Not sure what to think...
www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cops-bust-dagga-carrying-donkey-trains-20130502
I am of the conviction that this is the right thing given the social problem that dagga has been, however this may impact on the safety of hiking on the escarpment. Not sure what to think...
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03 May 2013 09:00 - 03 May 2013 10:00 #56798
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Lesotho border patrol
I definitely have views on the smuggling business.
If a donkey train carrying 3.8m worth of dope were to cross a road border from Lesotho to SA, the whole lot would get banged up. Because of this, the donkey trains ply the Berg passes instead - so that they don't get caught (most of the time). They do this because they can fetch a higher price for the smuggled dope in SA than they can selling it in Lesotho. As a result of this calculus, the Berg suffers irreversibly (it takes 10 000 years or so to replace an eroded soil horizon).
Its not about a few groups of people sitting round smoking dope as they have always done. It is about lucrative schemes to make enormous sums of money for which the Berg carries the prime negative externality.
If a donkey train carrying 3.8m worth of dope were to cross a road border from Lesotho to SA, the whole lot would get banged up. Because of this, the donkey trains ply the Berg passes instead - so that they don't get caught (most of the time). They do this because they can fetch a higher price for the smuggled dope in SA than they can selling it in Lesotho. As a result of this calculus, the Berg suffers irreversibly (it takes 10 000 years or so to replace an eroded soil horizon).
Its not about a few groups of people sitting round smoking dope as they have always done. It is about lucrative schemes to make enormous sums of money for which the Berg carries the prime negative externality.
Last edit: 03 May 2013 10:00 by tiska.
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03 May 2013 11:56 #56800
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Lesotho border patrol
Kind of hard to be objective as a person who is very anti-smoking (mainly after watching my grandfather who only smoked for 20 years die of emphysema) and anti drugs/similar illegal substances.
What worries me is that things usually get worse before they get better. By doing something like this, the smugglers will just vary their routes, maybe get more hostile toward hikers (bearing in mind that we know the routes they use and they may feel that we inform on them to the police).
What worries me is that things usually get worse before they get better. By doing something like this, the smugglers will just vary their routes, maybe get more hostile toward hikers (bearing in mind that we know the routes they use and they may feel that we inform on them to the police).
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