23 Mar 2016

Thousands of Batswana crossed the Tlokweng Boarder to commemorate the crucifixion and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to the chief immigration officer at the Tlokweng Boarder Post, Mr Kedumetse Lepang, a total of 13 479 people crossed the boarder to South Africa, while 12 122 came into the country.

“There has been an influx of people coming in and out of the country to celebrate the Easter Holidays but we had our staff ready to assist and make sure that waiting time for our customers was reduced,” he told BOPA. 

Mr Lepang said they had planned to have adequate staff ready during the holidays to remedy the usual long queue which is usually tiring thus making travelling unpleasant.

“We were prepared and we will continue to strive making crossing the border tolerable. ” he said.

Mr Lepang alluded that about 23 parents with children were unable to cross the boarder as they did not have birth certificates and affidafits and recorded a total of 13 illegal immigrants out of which eight were arrested while five were fined and discharged.

Meanwhile the Gaborone West Police Station traffic officer, Assistant Superintendent Edwin Motshosi said they had tightened their patrols  to ensure  safe roads during the Easter long weekend holidays. 

Assistant Superintendent Motshosi said they were concerned about the rising number of accidents and recorded 240 fines of failure to wear seat belts which was rampant among the youth.

He indicated that steadfast measures had been put in place to safeguard road users this time with more emphasis on the use of seat beats as mostly passengers at the back seats usually fail to comply.

“A total of 399 fines were made of which 26 were charged for drunken driving, 26 for over speeding, 8 for not adhering to traffic lights, 30 for driving without a licence, five for use of cellphones while driving and recorded 18 minor accidents,” he said. ENDS