Lesotho–South Africa border Lesotho–South Africa border The border between Lesotho and South Africa is long and forms a complete loop, as Lesotho is an enclave entirely surrounded by South Africa. The border follows the Caledon River, the drainage divide of the Drakensberg mountains, the Tele River, the Orange River, the Makhaleng River, and a series of hills joining the Makhaleng back to the Caledon. The Basotho people formed a distinct polity in the 1820s under Moshoeshoe I, the first Paramount Chief. At that time Basotho territory included much of what is now the Free State province of South Africa. This territory was lost
Lesotho Mounted Police Service Lesotho Mounted Police Service The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) is the national police force of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The police service was established in 1872, with an initial strength of 110 men. It adopted military discipline and, from 1878, military rank structures. In the 1950s the force moved towards a civilian police operation, and in 1958 replaced its military rank structure with conventional civilian police ranks. Originally known as the Basutoland Mounted Police, the force later changed its name to Lesotho Police, then Lesotho Mounted Police (1966), and Royal Lesotho Mounted Force (1986). Today, in common with many