02 Feb 2022

One of Africa’s great ancient rivers has sprung back to life after five years of bone-dry spells.

The natural flowing watercourse of Molopo River crosses Botswana at Bray and has over the years displayed an intermittent flow of water, but was usually dry.

Residents of Bray in Kgalagadi South are as such excited to see the Molopo River flowing again although the water has submerged the border line between Botswana and South Africa in the periphery of Bray towards Maralaleng.

The river is an ephemeral stream of the Orange-Senqu River system, which forms an international river basin shared by Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. 

In Botswana, its stretch covers 1 000 km. It passeson the east of Mafikeng in the North West province of South Africa and flows west along the border between Botswana and South Africa, then joins the Orange River near the border with Namibia.

Kgosi Lenyeletse Kgannyeng of Bray is optimistic that the sudden rush of water in the river will improve the living standards of his people. 

“We last saw the river flowing in 2017. Usually it flows after every two or three years around March. It is strange that it is flowing in January this time around carrying large amounts of water that we have not seen before,” says Kgosi Kgannyeng.

The octogenarian says in the past the flow ended in Werda, but this time around it reached Maralaleng. 

“The Molopo River runs through Khuis and Gakhibana to Bokspits although the water never reaches the village. 

The last time the river reached Maralaleng was in 1963 and today it is happening again,” he said excitedly.

Kgosi Kgannyeng says the ecological integrity of the Molopo River ecosystem depends on its natural character and that they have held kgotla meetings to devise ways to harness benefits while the water was still available. 

They have also advised parents to look after their children in order to avoid a repeat of a Moshupa incident in which 5 children drowned.

He is elated that the river will lesson the acute shortage of water in the village. 

In the past when nature channeled water through the river, they used it for livestock, irrigation and fishing, which added variety to their diet.

He aspires for the area to be developed into a tourism destination of choice, especially when the river is flowing as the view is captivating. 

Kgosi Kgannyeng says large free flowing amounts of water is so fascinating that it could attract tourists and consequently create the much needed employment opportunities for the villagers.

He also says he wants the water to be harvested for agricultural purposes, where villagers could be allocated vegetable plots along the river.

Spotted driving livestock to the Molopo River on Sunday with his friend, 27-year-old Mr Gosiame Ramasisane says he wants to make use of the abundant water resource. 

“We are happy that our goats, sheep and cattle now have access to water. We also use the water for building. 

Wild animals  also drinks from the river. The area looks amazing!” he says beaming with joy.

Bray Village Development Committee member, Mr Goitsemodimo Bosigo buttresses the need for the water to be used for horticultural purposes. 

He called for the construction of a dam to harvest the water for dry spells.

“It’s a natural phenomenon, our great grandparents used it for livestock watering,” he says. ENDS