14 Mar 2019

Increasing the number of combis that operate the Ramotswa-Gaborone route will unduly increase the safety risk which the ministry is continually seeking to reduce. 

This was said by Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Dorcas Makgato when answering a question from MP for Ramotswa, Mr Samuel Rantuana. 

Ms Makgato said they considered it inadvisable to  lower the current existing bus capacities for Ramotswa-Gaborone because currently there were eight (60) seater buses, which adequately served the route.

She said the ministry’s view was that the current operations adequately addressed both the demand and the desired safety on the roads. 

“Effective April 2018, we introduced a commuter train between Gaborone and Lobatse in order to benefit commuters from Ramotswa, and to reduce congestion on the roads,” she said. 

Furthermore, the minister stated that consideration for 24 hour continuous combi operations on the route would be made when demand arose. 

Ramotswa legislator had asked the minister to consider licensing 25 seater combis, including smaller ones, to operate the Ramotswa-Gaborone route and to extend their operating times to 24 hours upon completion of the dual Boatle-Game city road. ENDS