There is renewed optimism for Lesotho’s sporting fraternity following confirmation by the Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, Motlatsi Maqelepo, that significant progress is being made at Setsoto Stadium, where the installation of artificial turf and the renovation of stadium facilities are underway.
Speaking to journalists in Maseru this week on strengthening bilateral relations between Lesotho and South Africa in the areas of sports, arts and culture, Maqelepo said a locally procured and accredited contractor is currently working on the playground layout and landscaping around the stadium.
“The contractor who is licensed and accredited was procured to pave the way for the main contractors. Adel Grass, the company responsible for the turf installation, is set to arrive in Maseru this week and they promised to take no longer than a month working on the installation,” Maqelepo said.
He explained that the ministry’s immediate focus is to complete the playground before moving on to the renovation of the stadium facilities, stressing the urgency of making Setsoto fully operational.
“Our intention is to see the playground completed so that we can move to the renovations of the stadium facilities. We want the stadium to start functioning fully as soon as possible as we have seen that there are already athletics games being played as it is, and there are going to be more athletics games hosted in March, so we need to be ready,” he added.
Maqelepo further emphasised the need for Lesotho to have international-standard and technical stadiums to enable the country to compete with other African nations in hosting continental and global sporting events.
“So many African countries are bidding to host different sporting activities happening on the continent and globally. I want Lesotho, through the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Committee (LSRC), to also participate, but we can only do that if we improve our facilities,” he said.
The minister revealed that previous attempts to revamp the Rapokolane Sports Facility were unsuccessful after contractors failed to meet required standards, prompting the ministry to seek assistance from South Africa.
“The Ministry tried two times to get the right contractors for the revamping of Rapokolane Sports Facility but they failed to meet the standard requirements, hence we have asked our counterpart in the Republic of South Africa to assist us. I asked her to let her department assist LSRC in planning this so we can have more facilities, not only Setsoto Stadium, in order to host sporting activities at home,” Maqelepo explained.
Beyond infrastructure, Maqelepo highlighted that bilateral engagement between Lesotho and South Africa is future-oriented, anchored in sports, arts, culture and heritage as tools for social cohesion, economic development and people-to-people relations.
“Sports cooperation forms another critical pillar of our bilateral relations. We seek to strengthen exchange programmes for athletes and coaches, share best practices in sports development, and revive community sports structures,” he said.
Special emphasis will be placed on the Rapokolane High Altitude Training Facility, which Maqelepo described as a unique opportunity for elite athlete preparation and regional excellence. He also noted plans to develop water sports such as rowing and canoeing, leveraging Lesotho’s abundant water resources to boost athlete development, tourism and regional integration.
Infrastructure development will underpin these initiatives, including collaboration in upgrading stadiums, training facilities, museums, cultural centres and the proposed Maseru Massacre Memorial Centre. Maqelepo added that Lesotho is working towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Arts and Culture with South Africa in March this year to ensure sustained cooperation.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, said both countries agreed to fast-track the signing of agreements on Arts, Culture and Heritage, and to re-energise the implementation of the MoU on Sports and Recreation.
“We further agreed on five areas of collaboration, including building human capacity in sports, arts, culture and heritage, jointly celebrating Lesotho’s 60th anniversary of independence, and spearheading joint programmes towards the finalisation of the Rapokolane High Altitude Centre for the benefit of athletes from both countries and Africa,” Mabe said.
She also called on South Africans to participate in the upcoming Moshoeshoe Walk, during which the two ministries will sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Mabe concluded that the visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Lesotho and South Africa to honouring liberation sacrifices, preserving shared heritage and strengthening bilateral relations grounded in solidarity, mutual respect and a common history.
Summary
- Speaking to journalists in Maseru this week on strengthening bilateral relations between Lesotho and South Africa in the areas of sports, arts and culture, Maqelepo said a locally procured and accredited contractor is currently working on the playground layout and landscaping around the stadium.
- We want the stadium to start functioning fully as soon as possible as we have seen that there are already athletics games being played as it is, and there are going to be more athletics games hosted in March, so we need to be ready,” he added.
- Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, said both countries agreed to fast-track the signing of agreements on Arts, Culture and Heritage, and to re-energise the implementation of the MoU on Sports and Recreation.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
