01 May 2024

Acting President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has urged Father Masango, St. John’s Apostolic Church and families of the people who lost their lives in a road accident at Ranaka junction near Kanye on Sunday to look to God for comfort.

During his visit to the scene of the accident on Tuesday, Mr Tsogwane said while what had happened was unfortunate and had left the nation lost for words, it was imperative for all affected to lean on God and draw comfort from the fact that government and the entire nation shared in their grief.

He said government had since sent messages of condolences to both the church and the South African government, as he assured those who had lost their loved ones that the two nations would form a united front the same way it had done with the Limpopo bus accident that occurred over the Easter holidays.

“We have sent messages of condolences to the church and to President (Cyril) Ramaphosa in South Africa.  And we seek for strength from God so that we handle this issue the same way we have done with the Limpopo accident,” he said.

Briefing the Acting President, church secretary Mr Kaboyaone Abram said the accident occurred shortly after their South African members had left the church premises in Kanye on Sunday afternoon on their way back to their home country following a celebratory service at the church.

He said reports from the authorities indicated that all the seven deceased persons had lost their lives at the scene of the accident. Mr Abram thanked the emergency services personnel for their swift response and for the assistance that they and the area leadership had afforded representatives of the bereaved families and the church, and noted that their gesture would go a long way in helping them handle their loss.

“The church, both here and in South Africa, is grateful for the support it is getting from government as it eases the burden from off our shoulders especially since we were at a loss as to how we were going to handle this matter,” he said, noting how church representatives from South Africa were also impressed with how the issue was being handled.

From South Africa, a church delegate Mr Solomon Mokhwebane also thanked the Acting President and government for supporting the church as it tried to come to terms with what had happened.

He said the reception and support they were receiving had not only warmed their hearts but had also given them the much-needed strength.
Church leader Ms Naledi Mophuting similarly thanked government for standing with their church as it waded through the dark period of dealing with the death of its members.

She also called for churches to stand together during similar moments, saying it was only when they supported each other that they would be able to survive any difficult times that they would encounter.

Earlier Kgosi Gaofenngwe Bome who was welcoming Mr Tsogwane on behalf of Bangwaketse Kgosikgolo Malope II thanked the acting President  for making time to come and appreciate what had happened as well as to show solidarity to the church and the affected families.

According to the police, the accident involved a minibus, which had 15 passengers on board and a Range Rover that carried four passengers.Seven passengers from the minibus, six women and a man died, while the rest of its occupants, as well as those from the Range Rover, suffered serious injuries and are admitted in different health facilities in Kanye and Gaborone. ENDS