The Gaborone-Molepolole road which was closed at Metsimotlhabe/ Kopong intersection due to overflowing Metsimotlhabe River is now open to the public under minimal supervision, police have confirmed.
Heavy downpours this morning resulted in the road being closed as the bridge and the road were submerged forcing law enforcement officers to turn away commuters and motorists to and from Molepolole and Kopong.
Superintendent Samuel Kgomo of Mogoditshane Police Station revealed that the road is now operational. "The situation was really bad. We got here at around 4am where we found the water overflowing from the river and we decided to close the road for those that were going to Molepolole," he said. Kgomo added most people were turned away and they could not go to work due to the closure of the road. He further highlighted that the road was however not closed for long as it was soon reopened. "Though the water was heavy and the roads were submerged the water went down after few hours and we reopened the roads," Kgomo added.
However, he stated that the road has been opened under minimal supervision and they will continue to monitor the situation until the water subsidies. On whether there was any harm to humans or damage to property as a result of the overflowing river, Kgomo noted that no injuries were reported despite the heavy rains. "No one was injured but there was only one car that got caught in the middle of heavy waters but we managed to rescue them when we got to the scene," he explained. Though no injuries were recorded, the rains have left some people without homes, with property at some schools and cars damaged The heavy rains came after Botswana Meteorological Services warned of the heavy downpours as a result of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi.
Superintendent Samuel Kgomo of Mogoditshane Police Station revealed that the road is now operational. "The situation was really bad. We got here at around 4am where we found the water overflowing from the river and we decided to close the road for those that were going to Molepolole," he said. Kgomo added most people were turned away and they could not go to work due to the closure of the road. He further highlighted that the road was however not closed for long as it was soon reopened. "Though the water was heavy and the roads were submerged the water went down after few hours and we reopened the roads," Kgomo added.
However, he stated that the road has been opened under minimal supervision and they will continue to monitor the situation until the water subsidies. On whether there was any harm to humans or damage to property as a result of the overflowing river, Kgomo noted that no injuries were reported despite the heavy rains. "No one was injured but there was only one car that got caught in the middle of heavy waters but we managed to rescue them when we got to the scene," he explained. Though no injuries were recorded, the rains have left some people without homes, with property at some schools and cars damaged The heavy rains came after Botswana Meteorological Services warned of the heavy downpours as a result of Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi.