19 Mar 2020

In the midst of the outbreak of COVID– 19, which has spread across the world, cross border public transporters in Botswana, are committed to their social responsibility of serving the people against all odds.

Despite reports that the neighbouring South Africa was among the countries with confirmed cases of Coronavirus, public transport operators in the Gaborone – Johannesburg route are compelled to provide service to travellers.

However, a representative of the route operators, Mr Goitseone Modisaotsile has confirmed that the Coronavirus pandemic had impacted negatively on their business. 

Mr Modisaotsile said the first bus destined for Johannesburg normally departed Gaborone at 430am, but since the outbreak of the pandemic, business was moving at a snails pace. 

He revealed in an interview that at least seven buses departed to South Africa in a good day, but in the midst of COVID–19, only one or two buses were able to cross the border.

Despite the loss of business as a result of reduction in numbers of travellers, Mr Modisaotsile said public transporters were committed to serve the few who travelled between Botswana and South Africa. 

He noted that some locals regularly crossed the border to South Africa for purchase of a number of commodities and therefore boosting their business, but as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the numbers had dropped drastically.

He however applauded the Ministry of Health and Wellness for setting up a compulsory screening facility at the Tlokweng Border Post. 

As a result of the screening process, Mr Modisaotsile said passengers were subjected to extended waiting periods at the border post while undergoing the obligatory screening process.

Mr Modisaotsile also noted that his team was aware of the precautionary measures to take in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. 

“Our business is currently dependent on the small businesses mostly in the informal sector as they travelled frequently to purchase the various commodities that they traded in,” he said.

Mr Modisaotsile further observed that even though members of the community were advised to avoid shaking of hands as it was among the risk factors of spreading the varus, he observed that passenger paid in cash, which exposed them to risks. “We are aware of the precautionary measures to take to avoid spreading and contacting the virus, he said. 

He said that the Coronavirus pandemic had not only impacted negatively on the transport business, but on the daily lives of the people. Ends