06 Apr 2020

Hundreds of people who thronged Ikageleng kgotla in Selebi Phikwe for permits were sent back home this morning.

Kgosi Tebogo Stephen said in an interview that the district commissioner’s office had to send back all who needed permits to avoid gathering of people in the kgotla.

She said so far, they had issued a total of 76 permits, adding those sent home would be required to call the tribal administration or the district commissioner’s office to explain their reasons for applying for the permit.

She said those with valid reasons would then be allowed to leave their homes to apply for the permit instead of queuing at the kgotla the whole day, which might result in the transmission of Coronavirus.

She said she had observed that some community members did not understand the purpose of the permit while some used it for wrong reasons.

Thus, she urged the Selebi Phikwe community to adhere to precautionary measures put in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said those who wanted to do their shopping did not need permits, but she cautioned them to do such only when necessary to avoid contracting the virus.

Meanwhile, deputy district commissioner, Mr Mokgethi Nfila, said there were no suspected cases of COVID-19 in Selebi Phikwe. He said the four people who were put on a 14-day mandatory quarantine at Cresta Bosele Hotel had been moved to Marang Hotel in Francistown.

He said the town leadership and the police were working hand in hand to ensure that no one contravened the Emergency Powers (Covid-19) regulations of 2020. He urged Selebi Phikwe community to help in the fight against COVID-19 by staying at home. BOPA/060420tsk