Lesotho could be forced to reinstate the ban on the sale of alcohol after complaints from the South African government about the smuggling of the product from Lesotho.

Lesotho's Health minister, Nkaku Kabi, this week said his South African counterpart Zweli Mkhize had raised concerns over Lesotho's decision to resume alcohol sales.

Mr Kabi said the South African government had asked Lesotho to re-think its policies on the sale of alcohol "to maintain cordial relations between the two countries".

"I am told that there are South African citizens who stand on the other side of the border so that Lesotho citizens can sell them alcohol through illegal means," Mr Kabi said.

South African High Commissioner to Lesotho, Sello Moloto, yesterday said SADC countries had to agree on a coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic.