08 Sep 2026

Residents of Mogoditshane are set to access Department of Road Transport Service (DRTS) services closer to home following plans by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to open a new branch at the newly refurbished Mogoditshane Post Office.

The Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mogoditshane East announced the development during a kgotla meeting in Mogoditshane on Wednesday.

Mr Letlhogonolo Barongwang stated that the new office would bring vehicle registration and driver licensing services closer to residents while helping to decongest the main DRTS office in Broadhurst. He noted that his recent appointment to Cabinet would provide the three Mogoditshane constituencies with strong representation at the national decision-making level.

He pledged to use his position to ensure that the needs of Mogoditshane residents were directly communicated to the relevant ministries to improve service delivery.

Highlighting the health sector, the assistant minister expressed his intention to work closely with the Minister of Health to ensure that local clinics and the proposed new hospital in Mogoditshane were adequately resourced and receive essential medicines without unnecessary delays.

On infrastructure development, Mr Barongwang announced that construction of the long- awaited Gabane-Mmankgodi road was expected to commence in October, alongside works on approximately 25 kilometres of internal roads within Mogoditshane.

He emphasised that the road projects, together with the proposed hospital, were expected to create numerous employment opportunities for residents.

At the national level, Mr Barongwang shared that preparations were underway for major transport infrastructure projects, including the Trans-Kalahari Railway, which is expected to begin in the coming months. While the railway was initially conceived primarily to transport coal, its scope has since

expanded to include the transit of salt, copper, and other minerals to Walvis Bay in Namibia for export. The railway will also facilitate the transportation of essential imported goods from Walvis Bay into Botswana.

According to Mr Barongwang, the Trans-Kalahari Railway project was projected to create

between 80 000 and 110 000 jobs during its construction phase, and between 8 000 and 10 000 permanent jobs once it became operational.

Other major national projects currently being undertaken include the Mosetse-Kazungula Railway, the upgrading of the A1 road, and improvements to the Maun Airport. Turning to public transport, Mr Barongwang announced that the ministry has launched a pilot project aimed at transforming and integrating the country’s public transport system.

As part of this pilot, electric buses will be introduced within two weeks, featuring modernised payment systems and designated routes designed to reduce travel time. These buses will operate in dedicated lanes to avoid traffic congestion. Under the pilot project, two electric buses will service the

Metsimotlhabe–Mmopane–University of Botswana route, while another bus will serve the Mogoditshane area.

Developed under the Metro Rail and Metro Bus initiative, the project will involve establishing a cooperative company owned by local combi owners and drivers, with the government also sharing in the company’s earnings.

This initiative is also expected to drive broader improvements in road infrastructure. While residents warmly welcomed Mr Barongwang’s appointment to Cabinet and wished him well in his new responsibilities, they utilised the forum to voice pressing concerns regarding poor service delivery. Key issues raised included the dilapidated state of internal roads, inadequate medical supplies, and rising crime rates. They urged the Assistant Minister to collaborate closely with the relevant ministries and departments to urgently address these challenges and uplift Mogoditshane. ENDS