28 Feb 2016

Residents of Lephepe, Sojwe, Loologane, Shadishadi and Otse on Friday woke up to a trail of destruction following heavy rains and flooding in their villages with some areas recording as high as 121mm of rainfall.

Lephepe metrological services office head, Mr Kabo Gopane said more rains were expected over the weekend in the same areas and cautioned residents of more floods as the soil was now saturated with water and any new rain may cause more runoff waters.

He said in Lephepe they recorded 103mm, Shadishadi 93mm and Sojwe 121mm which has rendered roads and access roads linking the four areas inaccessible, streams and ponds overflowing and some fields covered by floods.

Kweneng District Council senior assistant council secretary, Mr Gofaone Kgabanyane said disaster teams were already on the ground assisting the affected with food and shelter and recorded 71 on spot homesteads that needed immediate assistance.

He said they will continue to assess to determine extent of damage and disburse proper assistance and so far about 30 people needed assistance of food hampers and disaster management office in Kweneng has reached an agreement with shops in affected areas to supply food rations to the affected families for at least two days.

He said though no injuries was recorded in the affected area, most areas were still not accessible because of flooded plains and students in some schools such as in Sojwe were sent back home.

Sojwe Station Commander, Superintendent Jourbert Kome said Lephepe and Otse were most affected and recorded high numbers of collapsed houses with Otse recording five injuries following collapsing of housing structures and saying early morning of Friday, Sojwe was submerged with cars fully covered with water in some parts of the village. 

He said some parts of the road between Otse and Sojwe were totally covered, making it temporarily not usable for people using Molepolole-Serowe carriageway after eastward flowing water mostly from Shadishadi and Loologane areas. Pupils at Otse Primary School had to go home following flooding and clinic temporarily not functioning as nurse's house was totally submerged. 

According to Superintendent Kome, one teacher is recuperating after exposure to cold environment following spending entire night in a flooded house.

Ms Sara Kegapetse who is a Tirelo Sechaba participant at Otse clinic had to skip work after their house collapsed and identity documents such as birth certificates and clothing for her child were washed away by flooding waters. “This is a draw back for me. I know it is going to be difficult to get new ones again and this will affect our lives here,” she said.

In Loologane settlement, Kgosi Baotlogetse Selabe said over 20 homesteads have been affected and left with no roof over their heads. He is expecting more damages with more forecast rains. 

He said he is hopeful the council  and police officials will be able to assist with food, tents and  clothes to deserving residents under distress. One victim, Mr Keitsaletse whose houses collapsed said he was forced to flee home around 1am to relatives whose houses were not affected and has lost food and clothes and blankets were still soaked in rain waters under the rubble of fallen houses. ENDS