21 Jan 2025

The recent cloud bursts have triggered Bokaa dam’s water level to rise above its brim leading to flooding. 

As custom, residents would trespass through the porous fence and open gates to witness the amazing waterfalls as the surging waves somersault into Metsimotlhabe river where it resumes to carry the water to Notwane river near Pilane. 

The scenario is usually a fusion of fantasy and adventure where children play in the water alongside fishermen whilst some capture the moment on cameras. 

On Sunday, Bokaa North councillor, Victor Serojane, drove to the flooding point to caution those who risk their lives in the overflowing water.  

“The dam started overflowing on Friday night and today I came here to ensure people  who are fond of coming here, were safe. Some get into the water posing for pictures or shooting videos whilst some swim and fish.  We should be vigilant because a  lot of lives have been lost in the past,” said Mr Serojane. 

He  criticised some contractors of the North-South Water Carriage pipelines who left the fence open for years saying it gave residents access to the dam, which he said was risky of them drowning. 

“The free movements even pose a difficulty for the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to control the movement in and out the dam,” said Mr Serojane.

He said the current situation required mass manpower if the dam marshals or security guards were an alternative to monitor the situation. Mr Serojane suggested that the dam should be turned into a fun park to attract tourist, enhance  tourism  to have an impact in economic diversification as well as job creation. 

He alluded to the fact that waterfalls, fishing, bird viewing points, video and photography shooting and  the number of visitors to the dam side were a clear picture that the dam was a potential tourism area. 

He promised to approach the WUC address renovation to ensure the dam is fully fenced, and have a manageable access that puts the dam in a state of monetizing its tourism attraction points.  The entrance fees, said Mr Serojane, could be used as well to maintain the ever-cut fence so that the dam does not remain open and worthless. 

He said residents in the vicinity of the dam such as Bokaa, Morwa and Mochudi should benefit mostly in terms of fishing licences since these were areas at risk during overflowing. 

Mr Serojane expressed concernmn over illegal fishermen because it only benefitted individuals and not the entire community.  He said such kind of scenarios must be stopped and law should be enforced for the benefit of all.  Mr Serojane the council should ease ways of aqcuiring fishing licences to stop illegal fishing. ENDS