Africa-Press – Botswana. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi visited St Engenas ZCC in Molepolole to offer his condolences after the branch lost members in an accident at Mmamatlakala, Limpopo in South Africa last Thursday.
The 44 brethren, together with the driver, were on their way to Moria, the church headquarters, for Easter services when the bus they were travelling in fell off a bridge and caught fire. Dr Masisi described the accident as the most horrific ever in the history of Botswana, adding that the country had never lost so many people in one incident.
“As a nation, we have never witnessed an incident of this magnitude and it is painful for everyone,” he said, adding that it was also disheartening as the members met their fate when they were on their way to church to serve God. The President appealed to the nation to respect bereaved families and refrain from publishing reports that could add more pain than soothe it.
“People can still not be identified and it will take time. The government will continue supporting the church and bereaved families until the very last day,” he said. President Masisi has also appealed to Batswana not to stigmatise the sole survivor, an eight-year-old girl, saying she needed support and not to be reminded about an ordeal she encountered as that would make healing difficult.
The President also took time to thank South Africa President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and his government for their swift response to the accident and the assistance they offered the victims, their families and Botswana in general.
He said the South African government used everything at their disposal, including resources that Botswana did not have, to respond to the accident and worked well with the church and Botswana’s envoy to the neighbouring country, Dr Sanji Monageng. Meanwhile, Kgosi Kgari Sechele III thanked the President for having seen the need to comfort the community.
He said public members and the business community had been calling to offer a helping hand, adding that the concerned people would release the details of how to channel assistance in due course.
He said given the high number of victims, it was impossible for President Masisi to visit individual families, hence he paid homage to the church.
The President was accompanied by Minister for State President and MP for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, MP for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng, Permanent Secretary to the President, Ms Emma Peloetletse, Botswana’s envoy to South Africa, Dr Monageng and Commissioner of Police, Ms Dinah Marathe.
St Engenas ZCC secretary, Mr Philip Sebifo briefed the President about their pilgrimage to South Africa, where they were to attend Easter services in Moria. He appreciated the church headquarters, the South African authorities, the police and health personnel for an excellent service and invaluable support thus far.
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