26 Jan 2020

A member of the board of inquiry into the derailment of BR passenger train 0501, Mr Gofaone Morweng, says according to communication in the BR Operations WhatsApp group, the accident could have been avoided because some group members doubted whether trains should operate or not on that particular day.

Mr Morweng expressed this concern Thursday during public hearings on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He wondered why BR managers could not decide on whether to authorise the operations of trains or not.

In his evidence, Botswana Railways (BR) chief traffic controller, stationed in Mahalapye, Mr Richard Butale, said from December 7, BR civil engineering department posted on BR Operations WhatsApp group reminding that the forecast rain had arrived and urged all concerned with the running of the trains to exercise caution.

“As a department, they mentioned that they were observing the conditions and they were to advise further on the caution measures if the need arises,” he said.

Mr Butale said he also kept on updating on the conditions of lines requirement, as per TW R 207, on the same WhatsApp group.

On December 9, before BR passenger train 0501 departed Lobatse, he said BR senior traffic controller, Mr Makhokhoba, at around 7:22 pm, enquired how the condition of the track around Mahalapye was after the heavy rain and was advised to depart from Lobatse through the BR Operations WhatsApp group.

However, despite seeing the communications about the water situation, prior to the accident, on their Whatsapp group, he said he never communicated on the group on December 9, even though he was active on the Whatsapp group.

Even though he acknowledged that a WhatsApp group was a quick way of disseminating information, Mr Butale said, ‘I always feel it is better to call and express your understanding, because when you talk is not like when you write.’

“I saw the communication, but on that day, after the rain, when I went home my phone was very low on battery. I had to return to the office to pick the charger for the phone because there was no electricity at home,” he said.

Relating what transpired on the day of the incident, Mr Butale said at 2:43 am, BR senior traffic officer, Mr Regionald Ditlogolo called him, reporting that train 0501 had plunged into flood water near Pallaroad and Bonwapitse.

He said Mr Ditlogolo advised that the message be relayed to Operations Control Centre (OCC), by BR commercial clerk, Ms Game Phuthego who could not give full details to OCC at the time of reporting.

“I was told, she mentioned that some of the coaches were on the far East side of the rail line and some on the western side of the rail line. I was also told she mentioned that she could not see the locomotive and the upper-class coaches next to the locomotive,” said Mr Butale.

On that day, he said train 0501 was being worked by locomotive BD 549 and the trading load was 560.56 excels, adding that the train crews were Ms Doreen Motsewetsho, Mr Boipuso Tshwanela and Mr David Sima.

Additionally, he said in his report, Mr Ditlogolo also mentioned that the late BR permanent way inspector, Mr Kgomotso Saitsoketsa joined the locomotive from Pallaroad, as per earlier communication from Mr Sima to BR traffic controller, Mr Modise Keabetswe.

“I found out that though the OCC staff was in a state of shock and panic, they did deal with the incident professionally in that they had, through cooperation, activated emergency promptly as required and as per the activation list, callout, and or, procedure,” he said.

“I remained in the office with the OCC staff, until the sign off duty, to give guidance and comfort, as well as to assist if the rescue teams were to call for assistance from OCC. Note that on December 9 at 4 pm we received heavy rains that caused floods around Mahalapye area,” he added. ENDS