22 Nov 2018

Twelve Road Traffics Accident were reported and registered along Mmatshumo/Letlhakeng road for the past three years.

Answering a question in Parliament on November 20 , Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said out of the 12 accidents,10 resulted from drivers’ errors ranging from speeding, fatigue and drunken driving, whereas two were due to outside interference of livestock and wildlife.

The road, she said was de-bushed during the last quarter of 2017/18 and at the beginning of 2018/2019 financial year.

Ms Tshireletso further said animal barrier fence was not included in the scope for construction of the road.

Currently, she said there was no policy regarding fencing of roads, adding that where it was found imperative to do so an Environmental Impact Assessment would be undertaken.

“In the case of the road in mention, the assessment has shown that fencing of this road might interfere with movement of wild animals from the territory in the plans,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso said due to non-restricted movement of wildlife in the area, there was no need for an animal barrier fence along the road to be included in the National Development Plan 11.

Boteti East’s MP Sethomo Lelatisitswe had wanted the minister to update members about the nature and number of road accidents that had happened in the past three years, the number of lives lost during the accidents along Mmatshumo-Letlhakane road, when the road was last de-bushed and de-stumped.

He had also asked whether the road had an animal barrier fence, whether the ministry would implement all that was needed for the road in NDP 11. Ends