Lobatse, Otse may get alternative route
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday February 28, 2017 17:12
In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, the deputy district commissioner Kolobetso Sejakgomo said they were planning to build a temporary road along the old Lobatse road.
She said that they have dispatched a team of engineers, police, and other officials to investigate the old road.
“After completing their investigations, we will determine if we can re-open the road, make a temporary route or find other alternatives that would enable the public to travel between Lobatse and Gaborone without having to take long routes,” she said.
Sejakgomo explained that the decision was made after they learnt that it was very expensive and time consuming for many road users to travel from Lobatse to Otse or vice versa using other roads. She said the closure of the bridge resulted in many students missing classes. She also said the alternative roads had been greatly affected as they have developed potholes due to heavy traffic.
She said that the Nnywane River Bridge is completely ruined and cannot be used.
However, Sejakgomo said they were not certain when the bridge would be reconstructed as many bridges in the country including Moshupa, Taung and others also needed to be repaired or reconstructed.
Furthermore, Sejakgomo pointed out that they unblocked all storm water drainages and culverts in the town to enable water to easily flow.
Meanwhile, in their press statement, the National Disaster Management Office stated that latest areas hit by floods were Mochudi at Moshawana and Bophirima wards where 22 households were affected.
“Households affected have been assisted with various relief items including food baskets, tents and five households have been relocated to a temporary shelter at Phaphani Primary School. Most of those affected by the floods resided along the Notwane riverbank.
The District Disaster Management Committee providing assistance and response in the area has appealed to residents who live along the riverbank to cooperate with their teams when they are asked to move to high ground,” it stated.
It also stated that in Molepolole/Lentsweletau in the Kweneng District floods affected 18 households while in Letlhakeng Sub-District it affected 20 households. It further noted that in Ramotswa, the water level in the river had receded and that the situation in the village had normalised, including the Taung area where the road was also open for use.
“In Lobatse the situation has also stabilised and the Disaster Management Committee is monitoring the situation. The committee further advises members of the public not to attempt to cross the Nnywane Bridge even by foot, as the condition of the damaged bridge is unstable and very dangerous.
This follows after some parents from Otse village wanted to have their school going children cross the bridge on the way to school in Lobatse,” it stated.