Flood subsides but Martins Drift border remains closed

Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday March 20, 2014 11:31

 

“Water has subsided on the Botswana side and we are just waiting for South Africa to conclude their inspections,” said Martins Drift Police Station Commander Gaokganelwe Rannyena. But seven days later, the border post remains closed.

Rannyena said that the South African authorities have suggested that inspection be carried out on the affected areas to ascertain that the road was safe to cross.

Last week flooding led to government officers from the Botswana Police Service, Department of Immigration and Customs and Excise being evacuated to places of safety as the river had already started flooding their homes. Kwa Nokeng Lodge was also not spared the tragedy and all its employees were also relocated from the lodge to areas of safety and all booked guests had to be moved to other lodges.

The aggressively flooding waters at the border post, which has the imposing Limpopo River running through, were so bad that impounded vehicles on the South African side of the border were submerged with only rooftops visible. It is understood that over 100 people on the South African side who reside next to the river were evacuated and housed in community halls in neighboring villages.

Officer Commanding Mahalapye Policing District Senior Superintendent Neo Kedumetse told Mmegi that the water volume had been increasing since the border was officially closed last Thursday. He said this prompted authorities to relocate employees and house them in tents secured from Mahalapye.

Kedumetse said public media announcements were made to inform travellers to use other routes and for members of the community to avoid moving towards the river for fear of attacks by crocodiles and hippos. He added that as a precautionary measure Kwa Nokeng Lodge that is adjacent to the Limpopo River was closed on Friday morning. By that afternoon the rising water was flooding staff quarters, hence the decision to also vacate hotel employees.

Martins Drift border post is the busiest point of entry for trucks ferrying goods to and from South Africa as well as local businesspeople who buy products from South Africa. Many heavy loaded trucks could be seen driving towards the border only to be turned back by authorities.

Kwa Nokeng Lodge owner Rina Van Vuuren said she had to evacuate her employees from the cottages to Shapane Ranch for safety as water was getting closer to their operations. She was surprised that the water level that reminded her of the 2000 floods had submerged the 2.4 meter high border fence.

“I had about 16 guests booked last night but I relocated them to another lodge in Sherwood. I also had to turn others away for their own safety,” she said.

Van Vuuren said the flooding was a serious inconvenience as business had stalled depending on the length of time the situation is going to take.  She said the loss would translate into millions if buildings are affected.  She said during the 2000 floods the border was closed for over 10 weeks.

She explained the whole situation as a disaster and said they have since left doors and windows of all rooms and cottages wide open so that the damage can be minimised in case high volume water reaches them. Van Vuuren said the Mogol River that passes through Elisrus, Crocodile River and Lephalale River in South Africa as well as some rivers in Botswana including Mahalapye River flows into the Limpopo causing the floods.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Nonofo Molefhi visited the border on Friday afternoon to monitor the situation.  By Saturday morning, the water level had risen but Kedumetse appreciated that no casualties were reported.