The spectacular annual Roof of Africa (ROA) yesterday burst into action, engulfing Maseru city in a hive of activity buzzing with international riders and tourists in for the latest dose of the daring rides and breathtaking scenery along the race route.
As is the standard, the three-day show kicked off with the ‘Round the Houses’ feature at Maseru Mall, where participants showcased their freestyle skills and competed in time trials.
The main race begins today, and will carry over to tomorrow, at the rugged Oxen Hill terrain in Matsieng, just outside Maseru.
Lesotho is notably represented in three categories: by Basia Maseatile, Shabeer Moosa, and Ulrich Pop in the silver category; David Salley, Timello Tšolo, Peter Andrews, and Katleho Tlaole in the bronze category. Eric Salley and Lesekele Hlaoli
This year’s edition boasts an impressive 509 riders across four categories namely gold, silver, bronze, and iron. The riders hail from diverse countries, including France, Australia, Portugal, Romania, Germany, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Iceland, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, Namibia, South Africa, and host nation Lesotho.
Among the notable competitors is South African Wade Young, the reigning champion and a hard-enduro legend. At just 28 years old, Young has already claimed the Roof of Africa title eight times—in 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. His historic 2012 victory, achieved at the age of 16, made him the youngest champion in the event’s history.
Young, competing in the Gold category, faces tough competition this year. Bulgarian rider Teodor Kabakchiev, the 2020 Junior Super Enduro World Champion, and South Africa’s James Moore, a three-time national enduro champion who finished fourth in last year’s race, are among his fiercest rivals.
Speaking to the media, Bereng Ntaote, Public Relations Officer for the Lesotho Off-Road Association (LORA), confirmed Young’s participation despite earlier uncertainties due to his packed international schedule.
“All our local riders are ready, fit, and well-prepared. Their bikes are in excellent condition, and they’re eager to make Lesotho proud,” Ntaote stated.
[{"id":"18846","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/how-the-country-moves-development-at-the-crossroads-why-parliamentary-oversight-must-define-the-11th-parliament\/","name":"how-the-country-moves-development-at-the-crossroads-why-parliamentary-oversight-must-define-the-11th-parliament","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Dr.-Tseliso-Moroke.png","alt":""},"title":"How The Country Moves: Development at the crossroads: Why parliamentary oversight must define the 11th parliament","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:18:12","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 12:18:13","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:18:13","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":0},"status":"publish","content":"T\u0161eliso Moroke Parliamentary oversight must become the defining watershed of the 11th Parliament. The stakes are simply too high for it to remain ceremonial or"},{"id":"18844","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/repositioning-lesothos-youth-employment-strategy-through-commonwealth-multilateralism\/","name":"repositioning-lesothos-youth-employment-strategy-through-commonwealth-multilateralism","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Theko-Tlebere.png","alt":""},"title":"Repositioning Lesotho's Youth Employment Strategy through Commonwealth Multilateralism","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:17:04","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 12:17:05","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:17:05","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":43},"status":"publish","content":"Theko Tlebere Youth unemployment in Lesotho is often attributed to lack of job opportunities. However, my studying in China has traversed me to undertake that"},{"id":"18842","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/how-the-country-moves-when-politics-becomes-self-preservation\/","name":"how-the-country-moves-when-politics-becomes-self-preservation","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Tseliso-Moroke.png","alt":""},"title":"How the Country Moves: When politics becomes self-preservation","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:15:55","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 12:15:56","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:15:56","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":20},"status":"publish","content":"T\u0161eliso Moroke Political parties in this country are the same. They thrive on well-known social ills. They campaign on unemployment, inequality, corruption, poor service delivery,"},{"id":"18840","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/the-budget-speech-is-not-the-budget-yet-so-lets-talk-about-what-it-gets-right\/","name":"the-budget-speech-is-not-the-budget-yet-so-lets-talk-about-what-it-gets-right","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Theko-Tlebere.png","alt":""},"title":"The budget speech is not the budget yet; so let\u2019s talk about what it gets right","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:13:42","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 12:13:43","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:13:43","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/opinion-leaders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion & Leaders<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":7,"sec":33},"status":"publish","content":"Theko Tlebere In Lesotho, every February, there is something predictable that happens. The Minister stands up, reads the Budget Speech, and before the ink is"},{"id":"18817","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/lesotho-launches-landmark-twice-yearly-injectable-prep\/","name":"lesotho-launches-landmark-twice-yearly-injectable-prep","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/herpes-vaccine.png","alt":""},"title":"Lesotho launches landmark twice-yearly injectable PrEP","author":{"name":"Ntsoaki Motaung","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/ntsoaki\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:00:01","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 12:11:39","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 10:11:39","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":46},"status":"publish","content":"Lesotho has officially welcomed its first consignments of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, in a ceremony that highlighted both the promise of"},{"id":"18832","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/masianokeng-academy-moulds-future-stars\/","name":"masianokeng-academy-moulds-future-stars","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Tlokotsi-Ndlovu-President-of-Masianokeng-Sports-Academy.png","alt":""},"title":"Masianokeng academy moulds future stars","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:49:53","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:49:54","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:49:54","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sports<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sports<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":55},"status":"publish","content":"Refiloe Molise Founded in the heart of Maseru, Masianokeng Sports Academy is using sport as a powerful tool to keep children off the streets and"},{"id":"18829","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/comrades-marathon-preparations-boosted\/","name":"comrades-marathon-preparations-boosted","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Representatives-of-Alliance-Insurance-Company-athletes-from-the-Hillbusterz-Running-Club-and-other-stakeholders-gather-during-the-launch-of-the-65km-ultra-marathon.png","alt":""},"title":"Comrades marathon preparations boosted","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:47:03","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:47:04","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:47:04","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sports<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/sports\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sports<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":9},"status":"publish","content":"Mamello Rakotsoane In a move to strengthen long-distance running in Lesotho, Alliance Insurance has once again partnered with Hillbusterz Running Club to host a 60-kilometre"},{"id":"18824","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/new-barbecue-experience-to-ignite-foodies-palate\/","name":"new-barbecue-experience-to-ignite-foodies-palate","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mountain-Sizzlers.png","alt":""},"title":"New barbecue experience to ignite foodies\u2019 palate","author":{"name":"Chris Theko","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/chris\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:38:17","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:42:42","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:42:42","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/arts-leisure\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Arts & Leisure<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/arts-leisure\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Arts & Leisure<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":17},"status":"publish","content":"Lesotho\u2019s food and outdoor lifestyle scene is set to welcome a unique culinary experience with the introduction of \u201cSizzle in the Sky,\u201d a barbecue-themed event"},{"id":"18821","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/celebrating-visual-art-in-water-conservation\/","name":"celebrating-visual-art-in-water-conservation","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Celebrating-visual-art-in-water-conservation.png","alt":""},"title":"Celebrating visual art in water conservation","author":{"name":"Thoboloko Nt\u0161onyane","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/tee\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:24:59","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:25:00","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:25:00","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/arts-leisure\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Arts & Leisure<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/arts-leisure\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Arts & Leisure<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":13},"status":"publish","content":"Water in Lesotho is more than a natural resource; it is a lifeline that reflects cultural heritage, emotional depth and community resilience. This message was"},{"id":"18814","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/if-i-had-known-the-high-cost-of-information-poverty-in-thaba-tseka\/","name":"if-i-had-known-the-high-cost-of-information-poverty-in-thaba-tseka","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Regional-Monitoring-and-Evaluation-Officer-for-REPSSI-Lwandle-Khanyile-conducting-interviews-with-members-of-the-support-group-in-Thaba-Tseka-Ha-Matsumunyane.-1.png","alt":""},"title":"\u2018If I had known\u2019: The high cost of information poverty in Thaba-Tseka","author":{"name":"Ntsoaki Motaung","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/ntsoaki\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:12:28","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:12:29","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:12:29","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":4,"sec":23},"status":"publish","content":"\u201cIf I had the information I have now, I would never have fallen pregnant unplanned or at that age,\u201d said 20-year-old Nthabeleng (not her real"},{"id":"18811","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/horticulture-hub-heralds-new-era-of-emerging-fruit-industry\/","name":"horticulture-hub-heralds-new-era-of-emerging-fruit-industry","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/King-Letsie-III-cuts-the-ribbon-to-officially-launch-the-Lesotho-Horticulture-Incubation-and-Training-Centre.png","alt":""},"title":"Horticulture hub heralds new era of emerging fruit industry","author":{"name":"Newsday","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:05:55","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 11:05:55","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 09:05:55","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Business<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Business<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":44},"status":"publish","content":"Mamello Rakotsoane Lesotho has taken a significant step towards strengthening its agricultural sector with the launch of the Lesotho Horticulture Incubation and Training Centre, an"},{"id":"18808","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/lesotho-takes-steps-towards-green-economy\/","name":"lesotho-takes-steps-towards-green-economy","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Article-title.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Lesotho takes steps towards green economy","author":{"name":"Staff Reporter","link":"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/author\/staff\/"},"date":"Mar 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-12 07:47:34","modifiedDate":"2026-03-12 09:47:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-12 07:47:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Business<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/newsdayonline.co.ls\/category\/business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Business<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":44},"status":"publish","content":"Lesotho is moving to position itself within the growing global carbon market as stakeholders gather for a national sensitisation programme aimed at building knowledge and"}]
The Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts, and Culture, Motlatsi Maqelepo, officially welcomed participants and spectators, emphasising the significance of this year’s race as Lesotho celebrates 200 years as a nation. He encouraged visitors to enjoy the country’s majestic mountains, scenic landscapes, and warm hospitality.
“To Basotho, let us welcome our guests with peace and pride. They bring not only excitement but also an economic boost for our country. Many accommodation facilities are fully booked, and this is a moment for all of us to celebrate together,” said Maqelepo.
As the race continues, all eyes will be on the riders, braving the challenging Lesotho terrain in their quest for glory, while Basotho and visitors alike revel in the festivities of this iconic event.
