16 Dec 2019

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo has assured the families of the Botswana Railways crew who died during a train accident that the ministry would carryout investigations to find the cause of the accident.

The recent passenger train accident near Pallaroad seized the lives of two employees of Botswana Railways.

Speaking at the funeral of Mr Kgomotso Edwin Saitsoketsa at Magotlhwane on Sunday, Minister Segokgo said on that fateful night, Mr Saitsoketsa was assigned to accompany the assistant locomotive driver.

Mr Segokgo said only a few of the 400 passengers who were on board sustained minor injuries.

He said based on the findings of the report, they would take necessary measures to ensure that future occurrences were averted.

Mr Segokgo further indicated that currently the railway line transportation had been suspended, pending the outcome of the investigations, adding that services would resume after the railway line had been repaired.

“On behalf of the President and the First Lady, the Botswana Railways staff and the nation at large, I wish to send the heartfelt condolences to the Saitsoketsa family on the loss of their beloved son,” he said.

He said Botswana had really lost a capable, remarkable man, who had love, compassion, skills and capacity to carry Botswana Railways to greatest heights.

For her part, President of Botswana Transport and General Workers Union (BTGWU), Ms Gaebepe Molaodi extended the organisation’s deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

She described the late Saitsoketsa as a selfless, loving, compassionate, hardworking individual who was smart and principled in executing his duties in the union.

Ms Molaodi acknowledged that, as a member of BTGWU, Mr Saitsoketsa carried the post of a trustee, which entailed managing all the assets in the union.

Ms Molaodi pleaded with employers to strengthen and invest in improving safety in their workplaces by implementing proper safety standards.

She noted that risk assessments must be carried out in all workplaces and action plans for preventive measures drawn and followed.

“We also call on government to improve labour inspections as well as ratify and domesticate safety and health conventions,” she said.

She also assured the gathering that the authorities would conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary precautions to prevent such accidents in future. Ends