31 Jan 2021

Kasane Magistrate Court has granted a tour guide, who was operating a boat that capsised in the Chobe River claiming two lives in the process on November 28, a variation that his professional assistant guide license be returned to him.

Granting the variation, Magistrate Thato Ramaja, however, said the condition that the 24-year-old Kgomotso Seolwe, who is employed as a boat operator by one of the companies engaged in the construction of the Kazungula Bridge, should not operate any public boat still remained.

She said Seolwe should continue to undergo counselling, twice a week, which would be followed by a twice-a-month interval sessions. 

Ms Ramaja set February 25 as the next mention date.

The variation followed a counselling report from the social welfare department that indicated that Seolwe was responding well to counselling and was fit to return to work and that he be reintroduced to the river gradually.

For his part, Seolwe, who is facing negligence and reckless driving charges, told the court that at his place of work he operated a boat once a month and whenever necessary, so he did not have a problem with the conditions set by the social welfare department. 

He also indicated that at the time of the accident, he was doing a ‘piece job’.

The state prosecutor, Sergeant Ronald Tshube did not object to the variation.

He further appraised the court that the prosecution team was currently awaiting postmortem results for the second deceased. 

Seolwe is currently on a conditional bail. ENDS