By REGINALD KANYANE
North West police have urged community members to be on a high alert as the province experiences continuous torrential rains. This comes after a lifeless body of Olebogeng Mokwa was found in a furrow at Lokaleng village near Taung on Wednesday.
Pudimoe cluster police spokesperson, Warrant Officer, Tebogo Thebe said: “The person has been declared missing around December 2020. Yes, it is true that he was found dead and Taung police are investigating an inquest case.
“The deceased was identified by the family, but the post-mortem results are expected to aid the investigations to determine the identification and the cause of his death,” Thebe said.
According to information, Mokwa (36) who was residing at Manokwane village, in Taung, allegedly left his home in the early hours of the morning wearing only boxer shorts.
Thebe also urged individuals to be vigilant after the increase in levels of dams, streams, lakes, and rivers. He further said people should practice patience and be careful when crossing bridges.
“We urge parents to also be monitoring their kids as some of them will use this opportunity to go swimming. They must continue to observe Level 3 lockdown regulations by keeping their children indoors.
“Together, we can avoid unnecessary deaths which unfortunately occur yearly around this time. Do not cross rivers and swollen streams and if your car gets stuck in a flood, get out and climb to higher ground. Also, move valuables to safe buildings which are above flood level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Cooperative, Governance and Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs COGHSTA, Mmoloki Cwaile visited various areas to assess the extent of the damage caused by recent heavy rains.
Cwaile visited the municipalities that were worst affected, with most of the roads closed due to flooding. He said the province continues to experience heavy rains which have caused flooding in most parts of the province especially in areas such as Matlosana, Lekwa-Teemane, Mahikeng, Tswaing, Greater Taung, KagisanoMolopo and Ratlou.
“Officials from the Disaster Management units in the affected municipalities have been on the ground, since the start of the rainy season to conduct impact assessments to determine the extent of the damages in these areas as well as to coordinate intervention from various stakeholders such as South African Red Cross Society, SASSA, and other government departments.
“The worst affected areas are in Greater Taung Local Municipality. A total of 13 houses were flooded in Mokgareng village, three mud houses collapsed, one in Tlapeng village and two in Lower Majeakgoro. Most internal roads were inaccessible and flooding in Majeakgoro is mainly as a result of the blocked culvert and lack of maintenance thereof,” he said.
Cwaile added that there is no water drainage system to channel water away from the residential area. He said the Disaster Management team from the municipality is working around the clock to provide disaster relief material and temporary emergency shelters to the affected families, including in Sekhing and Losasane.
“In Tlakgameng and Khudunkgwane in the Kagisano Molopo, seven houses were destroyed by the floods and efforts are underway to assist the affected families with temporary structures and food parcels. In Bloemhof, 47 houses were also affected by floods mainly as a result of a poor water drainage system which gave rise to the water level.
“Ten houses in Letsopa and the road infrastructure were damaged and the affected families provided with food parcels, salvage sheets by Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Tswaing Local Municipality, SASSA and the Department of Social Development, respectively,” said Cwaile.
He said ten houses collapsed in Thutloane in Ratlou Local Municipality and one fatality reported. Cwaile said the municipality will provide the affected families with temporary structures.
“In Matlosana, 254 hostel units in Khuma Location near Stilfontein were flooded and SASSA provided the affected families with food parcels, blankets, and vanity packs. A total of 15 houses were affected in Mahikeng and the families will be provided with social relief of distress and temporary structures where necessary.
“As more rains are expected throughout the province, we call on communities especially in low lying areas to take extra care and to seek refuge in much safer places during this season,” he said.
The Guardian 