24 Feb 2025

Lobatse Town Council is mobilising resources to address the damage at  primary schools  due to recent heavy rains.
Town Clerk Ms Lenamile Taolo reported that several schools have been impacted, with Pitikwe, Hill School, Maitlamo, Bothakga, Peleng, Peleng West, and a local daycare center being the hardest hit.
On Tuesday, council officials conducted assessments at Pitikwe Primary School, where they took immediate action to remove falling ceilings from classrooms to prevent hazards for students and staff.
“The assessments revealed that the school requires complete re-roofing, with an estimated cost of around P200 000,” Ms Taolo said.
Currently, she said there were no  funds, saying  they were seeking financial assistance to restore the school.
She said the damage extended beyond the roofing to include issues with electrical maintenance.
“We will prioritise repairs for the worst affected schools first, followed by addressing the minor ones.”
 The total estimated cost for repairs across all affected schools is approximately P800 000.
  However, Ms Taolo indicated that the council was grappling with financial constraints but was committed to sourcing the required funds.
“With the 2024/2025 financial year approaching its end, there are no funds available in our recurrent budget,” she noted.
Additionally, Ms Taolo highlighted that Pitikwe primary, built about a decade ago, may suffer from structural defects contributing to its severe leaking roof situation.
“Most of the classrooms on the top floor are experiencing leaks; therefore, urgent maintenance is essential,” she added.
Further, she said challenges posed by continuous adverse weather conditions have complicated repair efforts.
In related news, Assistant District Commissioner Mr Kabelo Ntopo provided an update on the flood disaster management situation in Lobatse, confirming that it remainsed under control, with no major floods recorded in the district.
He noted that while rain had caused fallen trees obstructing traffic, these hazards have been promptly cleared.
 The most severe incident reported was at Pitikwe Primary School, with further assessments ongoing by relevant departments. ENDS