Man swims in Parliament�s water fountain
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday February 5, 2015 11:59
Unconfirmed reports say that Central Police Station (CPS) officers temporarily detained the trespasser but released him after a whipping.
The station commander, Modisaotsile Bonang was not available for comment as his phone rang unanswered. Parliament’s public relation officers referred queries to the Speaker whose secretary said the National Assembly clerk is the best placed person to talk about the issue. The clerk was unavailable for comments as she was said to be in a meeting.
However, an employee at the National Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity said horrified members of the public and security guards watched in disbelief as a man rolled several swimming styles – backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly in the water fountain.
Some of the spectators captured him on their mobile phones and posted the images online.
The pictures show a dark-skinned man, evidently a good swimmer, enjoying every moment in the clean water. The man wore black pants and a black t-shirt. He seemed to enjoy the luxury of swimming at the restricted area and the attention of spectators.
Some people questioned the sanity of the man and the common question was: “If a person can freely swim in the fountain, what more surprises can we expect?”
The images posted on Facebook by a witness Segolame Segokotlo and shared by Mmegi Facebook page received 1,814 likes, 686 comments by late last night. Some comments said no one can blame the poor man for seeking relief from the sweltering heat.
The Department of Meteorological Services has released a statement advising the public that there will be very hot temperatures over most parts of the country till mid next week.
“The most affected districts are Gantsi, Kgalagadi, Kweneng, South-East, Kgatleng, Southern and the northern parts of the Central District.
Temperatures over these areas are expected to reach highs of between 36°C and 40°C. Although the remaining districts will still be hot, temperatures are expected to range between 33°C and 36°C. Temperatures are eventually expected to drop by Thursday next week,” the department said.
People are advised to drink more water regardless of their activity level, avoid prolonged stay under the sun, stay under the shade and protect themselves from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat or umbrella.