The Maun policing area has recorded nine drowning incidents so far this year, with police warning that a failure to take basic safety precautions when using waterways could be contributing to the growing number of incidents.
Maun Police Acting Station Commander, Assistant Superintendent Moutlwatsi Ikobeng, said members of the public continue to venture into rivers without life jackets, particularly when fishing or crossing waterways in traditional canoes, known locally as mekoro.
Ikobeng said the use of a mokoro itself could pose significant risks, particularly when users do not take necessary precautions. He urged members of the public to prioritise their safety when using rivers and other waterways, saying the recurring incidents should serve as a warning to communities living and working around the waterways.
His warning comes after police recovered the body of a 46-year-old man who allegedly drowned in the Thamalakane River at Dikgathong Cattle Posts, about 27 kilometres from Maun, on August 22. According to Ikobeng, preliminary investigations indicate that the man drowned after the fiberglass canoe he was using capsised while he was attempting to cross the river. The deceased, who was from Botshabelo Ward in Maun and worked at Dikgathong Cattle Posts, was reportedly crossing the river to deliver the canoe to a colleague on the opposite side.
Ikobeng said the incident was reported on Saturday evening by a 39-year-old man from Dikgathong, who had seen the deceased before he went to cross the river. He explained that later that day, the man who was expecting to receive the canoe was heard calling from the opposite side of the river, asking about the canoe. The 39-year-old then went to the riverbank and informed him that the deceased had earlier indicated that he was going to deliver the canoe. It was at this point that they suspected that he could have drowned, and the matter was reported to police later that evening.
Ikobeng said police could not immediately launch a search operation because of poor visibility at night. A search operation began on Sunday morning, with police joined by members of the Specialist Support Group. The teams searched the area throughout the day but did not locate the deceased. “The search continued on Monday and we only found the canoe that the deceased was using to try and cross the river,” Ikobeng said.
The search continued into Tuesday, when the man’s body was eventually recovered at around midday. The body was taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination. The latest incident has renewed concerns over water safety in the Maun policing area, particularly as communities continue to rely on rivers and other waterways for fishing, transportation, and other activities. Ikobeng said members of the public should not underestimate the risks associated with crossing or travelling on waterways and should take appropriate precautions, including wearing life jackets. With nine drowning incidents already recorded this year, police are urging members of the public to exercise greater caution around water and avoid exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.
