16 Nov 2020

Community leaders in Bobonong constituency are requesting government to consider upgrading Platjan bordergate into a commercial one.

Speaking during a visit to the Platjan border by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti over the weekend, Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas and Kgosi Olgus Serumola of Mathathane called on government to upgrade the border and to tar the road that links the border gate to Lekkerport Junction.

The two leaders believe this would ease movement from Bobirwa to South Africa.

Mr Lucas who informed Dr Dikoloti that Bobirwa has four borders, three between Botswana and South Africa and one between Botswana and Zimbabwe said that none of the four borders was commercial.

This, he said, forced his electorate to use either Ramokgwebana or Martins Drift when they have goods of great value to declare.

The Bobonong legislator argued that lack of a commercial border was disadvantageous to his constituents, saying they travelled long distances even though they had borders that could have made their crossing into and out of South Africa with goods easier.

The MP argued that crossing at far away borders such as Martin’s Drift and Ramokgwebana border gates; rendered doing business a difficult undertaking.

He said that though the P104 million state of the art bridge was a magnificent development, lack of a tarred road that linked the bridge might affected usage of the bridge and the border.

Mr Lucas revealed that he had held talks with the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Peggy Serame over the tarring of the gravel road that leads to the bridge. The MP also said that he had also held talks with SPEDU, the client of the bridge constructed by Estate Construction, over the tarring of the road.

He said the SPEDU officials had told him that they sought funds from the European Union for the 26km road, a move that Mr Lucas found unnecessary.

He argued that SPEDU should not be sourcing funds outside to finance a 26km road.

Earlier, Kgosi Serumola called on government to upgrade the border into a commercial gate so as to decongest other borders.

In a previous interview, Kgosi Serumola said that even with the state of the art bridge, his people still found little use for the border owing to poor road leading there.

He said that without off-road vehicles people would still drive long distances to cross at Martin’s Drift border.

The Mathatane kgosi called on SPEDU to expeditiously upgrade the road into bitumen status or risk seeing the magnificent border turning into a white elephant.

He also opined that when tarred, the road would fuel tourism and inject life into businesses in the region as tourists would pass through the villages and seek services.

A small border, according to chief immigration assistant Ms Keiphe Nku, operates with only 10 officers; four from immigration, four from customs and two police officers.

Though fewer in numbers; Ms Nku decried shortage of office space for the officers.

She found that after the bridge was opened, the number of users doubled from 700 to 1500.

“It is one of the critical bridges in Bobirwa,” said Ms Nku.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Mr Kabelo Ebineng called on the officers at the border gate to prepare for possible opening in phase three.

He said that their visit to the border gate was to assess if it qualified for opening in the third phase and also assess what needed to be put in place to necessitate opening.  

Minister Dikoloti reiterated Kgosi Serumola’s assertions that Platjan bordergate was essential for tourism especially that the country was on economic recovery path.  Ends