Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo today confirmed that South Africa would respond positively to a request from the Lesotho Government by providing material and logistical support totalling R1.4 million to assist the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission during the forthcoming elections, scheduled for 23 May 1998. This would be funded from the technical assistance programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Nzo said the assistance would include the use of three South African National Defence Force helicopters for the delivery ad retrieval of materials and ballot papers to and from fourteen constituencies not accessible to ordinary road vehicles.
The Minister added that the Department of Foreign Affairs had also donated computers and servers to the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission to enable it to establish a data base used for the registration of voters. Minister Nzo also confirmed that South Africa would provide four election observers as part of an international effort to monitor the elections in Lesotho.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 19 MAY 1998