03 Jan 2013

Ravos, the cross country train for tourists, derailed at Pitsane level crossing next to Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board in the early hours of December 28.

Assistant Superintendent Molefi Kekgathetse of Ramatlabama police confirmed the incident and said they suspected block limit. He said the train which was carrying 90 passengers including the train crew missed the rail line and crossed to the main line causing derailment.

He said the train had 17 coaches and was from South Africa to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There were no injuries.

On other issues, he said the levels of crime particularly house breakings had also gone up at Pitsane West. Superintendent Kekgathetse noted that stolen goods included television sets, laptops, food and other household goods. He raised a concern that most houses were not occupied and the owners kept valuable goods that attracted criminals.

He appealed to house owners to participate in cluster policing and neighbourhood watch committees which he said were doing a good job in fight against crime in the village.

He said on January 1, police came upon thieves who were trying to break into a bar early in the morning. Superintendent Kekgathetse said the bar had no security guard and appealed to the business community to hire guards in their premises.

He also thanked bar operators for cooperating with the police during festive season noting they adhered to opening and closing times as the law stipulated. Generally, the holiday was a quite one except when a woman aged between 40 and 50 was raped by a man aged between 20 and 30 at Pitsane Potlokwe. He said the two had had a drinking spree before the incident.

The suspect was taken in for questioning. ENDS