04 Jan 2019

 Kutlwano police station commander has confirmed that a search for a 35-year-old man of Sebina, who drowned in the Tati River in Francistown on January 3 is still on-going.

Superintendent Neo Serumola said in an interview that the man and his friend were trying to cross the river when he drowned.

“He was in the company of a friend and the information we have so far (from the friend) is that the 35-year-old man went into the river first, but it looks like the pocket he went into was deeper,” he said.

He said the friend told the police that upon realising that the man might have drowned, he reported the matter and the search started immediately. But the police could not locate him.

Consequently, Superintendent Serumola said scuba divers from Botswana Defence Force were engaged.

He said the search, which could have started in the early hours of January 4, was delayed by lack of access into the river.

He pointed out that the search team was of the view that he could have been washed away from the pocket he drowned in, adding that it was not easy to tell the depth of the pockets as the river was still flowing.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Serumola has advised members of the public to avoid crossing the river but use available bridges. ENDS