Lesotho–South Africa relations Lesotho–South Africa relations Lesotho–South Africa relations refers to the current and historical bilateral relations of South Africa and Lesotho. Lesotho, which is completely surrounded by South Africa, depends on South Africa for most of its economic affairs, and its foreign policy is often aligned with that of Pretoria. Both are member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Southern African Customs Union and the Southern African Development Community. The area known as Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho (then Basutoland, a British protectorate) was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1871, but became separate again (as a crown
Geology of Lesotho yield and frequent springs. Steep terrain, rain and snow melt mean that Lesotho has a high risk of landslides. Lesotho has extensive diamond deposits in both kimberlites and alluvial gravel. The country has the highest concentration of kimberlite bodies in the world—a total of more than 400, including 343 dikes, 39 pipes and 23 blows. Northern Lesotho has an average of one kimberlite body for every 10 square kilometers. In spite of the large deposits, very few sites are mined and research is ongoing into alluvial deposits. The Karoo Supergroup hosts low-grade uranium and likely coal and coal-bed methane, although