04 Apr 2016

The recent heavy rains in the South East District have left 69 households affected and in need of assistance in Tlokweng and Ramotswa. 

The district principal development officer, Ms Kgomotso Kesianye told a special full council meeting recently that 47 families were assisted with temporary accommodation, meals, food baskets, toiletry and school uniform. 

She said damage caused by the floods affected mostly individual property such as food items, furniture, clothes and bedding. 

Ms Kesianye noted that more damage was recorded in Tlokweng as compared to Ramotswa. 

She said 21 households in Tlokweng were evacuated from their homes to temporary accommodation at the community hall in Tlokweng whereas there were no evacuations in Ramotswa Sub-district. 

She added that government offices affected included those at the new Rural Administration Center, Old Rural Administration Centre, Botswana Police Service office, Council supplies warehouse premises and Malete Land Board. 

She said three boreholes were also submerged in the water and that as a result water supply from the boreholes was suspended as it was suspected to be contaminated. 

Ms Kesianye also said the railway line was also affected, but that it was attended to by Botswana Railways. 

She said the National Disaster Management Office warranted P30 000 to assist with the provision of resources to address the effects of the floods. 

She said only P24 040 was utilised by the two villages, with Tlokweng using P17 970 and Ramotswa P6 070. 

Ms Kesianye said teams were formed to undertake assessment, and that evacuation centres were identified and operation centres put in place. 

She said her committee recommended the construction of a storm water drainage system within the district and the development of a district disaster preparedness and contingency plan. 

She also said there was a need to establish Village Disaster Committees through VDCs to improve disaster responsiveness at the village level. 

Addressing the council, the council chairperson, Mr Phenyo Segokgo agreed with his councillors that it was vital for the district to have protective clothing ready at all times in case disaster strikes. 

He also said victims of disasters should be forced to evacuate as he has witnessed some refusing to leave their flooded homesteads because they were concerned about the security of their property.  Mr Segokgo also said he would look into the establishment of a new clause where homesteads with walls would have to drill holes on the walls to allow water to flow out of their yards to prevent flooding as suggested by councillors. Ends