08 Mar 2020

Botswana Railways (BR) gang leader, Mr Leano Koomantswe, says his acting appointment as a track master prior to a train accident last year was never approved.

Mr Koomantswe, who was appearing before a board of inquiry into derailment of BR passenger train 0501 on December 10, 2019, admitted that he was the one who altered the facts in his civil derailment report. 

Initially, before altering his report, he said he had written that, ‘the water level was low and raised at 464.’ 

However, before submitting his report, he said he altered the facts to read ‘the water level was low at 464 and raised at 454, while I was to start at around 8 pm.’

Additionally, he said a certain Mr Thupane also instructed him to add the last paragraph, in his report, which said, ‘there is no threat to running of trains.’

Mr Koomantswe said he saw a letter that was written, proposing that he be appointed to act on behalf of BR track master, Mr Kealeboga Makola, who was on light duty from September to December 2019 and later on leave. 

This letter, he said, was handed to BR acting civil engineer, Mr Johnson Thupane, who then forwarded it to BR engineering manager, Mr Baboloki Phuthego for approval. 

However, he said Mr Phuthego did not approve his acting appointment since he was confused of whether, Mr Makola was away from work on leave or he was on light duty. 

He said he later enquired from Mr Thupane about when he would be issued with his appointment letter and Mr Thupane informed him that the matter was referred to human resource department and would be reverted back to Mr Phuthego for action. 

To date, Mr Koomantswe said he had not yet been given his acting appointment letter and was never remunerated for the acting position. 

Recently, when he enquired from Mr Thupane about when he would be remunerated he said he informed him that he would probably be paid around March 2020. During his acting period, as a track master from September to December 2019, he said he was told he would be performing part of the job profile, which was off-track duties such as bush clearing, unblocking culverts, fixing ballasts and track patrolling.

Previously, at the end of his first testimony, Mr Koomantswe was advised that if there was any issues that the board needed to clarify, he would be recalled. 

He was, therefore, recalled to clarify to the board if his acting appointment was approved, whether he was remunerated for it and if he was the one who altered facts in his civil derailment report. ENDS