20 Jun 2018

Potsane area along the A1 road, on the periphery of the South East District landfill, is proving to be a thorny area in the Ramotswa policing area.

Already, three fatal accidents have been reported in the area this year while a number of non-fatal accidents were also recorded.

Ramotswa police head of traffic, Assistant Superintendent Agrippa Gambule said the route was prone to numerous accidents.

He said on Sunday a man travelling from Lobatse had an accident which left him with a broken leg along the same route.

Although the accident was not fatal, Assistant Superintendent Gambule expressed worry that the Potsane area was accident prone even though they had not yet established what could be the cause.

Assistant Superintendent Gambule further commended motorists using the road between Boatle and Gaborone since the construction of the dual carriageway had led to the closure of Boatle junction thereby forcing motorists to use alternative routes.

However, he cautioned motorists not to go beyond the stipulated speed limit, adding that traffic was their greatest concern along the road.

“In the event of a breakdown along the road, the whole traffic from Gaborone to Boatle comes to a standstill,” he noted.

He said the police and the contractor continued to monitor traffic along the Gaborone and Boatle road to assist motorists.

He commended motorists for the cooperation they accorded the police since the road construction and further cautioned those who were in the habit of using unsanctioned routes during traffic peak periods.

Assistant Superintendent Gambule said they were aware that some bus stops had been moved, saying they would continue to monitor the place as the new location of bus stops was isolated hence putting the lives of passengers at risk.

He said the police continued to patrol the area to ensure public safety while an alternative was being sought. “We have suggested to the contractor to put a solar power tower light there,” said Assistant Superintendent Gambule.

Furthermore, the traffic police officer advised the public to avoid alighting in dark areas at night as that could put their lives in danger.

He also appealed to the public to engage with the police on any suggestions on how traffic could be managed during the road construction period. ENDS