An opposition MP wants legislators to "declare the whole of the Free State, parts of the Northern Cape, parts of the Eastern Cape, parts of Mpumalanga and parts of KwaZulu-Natal as part of Lesotho's territory", according to parliament's order paper.

It says the reclamation will be pursued under the United Nations Resolution 1817 (XVII) that was passed by the General Assembly in December 1962.

In 1871, Lesotho - then Basutoland - was part of the Cape Province - but, in 1884, it was declared a distinct crown colony.

Historically, Lesotho people were found in parts of South Africa's Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

But many were forced to move to present-day Lesotho because of conflict.