BY REGINALD KANYANE

PUPILS from schools around Klerksdorp received tips on effective ways to prevent, mitigate and respond to the impact of disasters like an earthquake.

The local government and human settlements in North West together Matlosana local municipality’s disaster management centre rolled out the campaign to pupils on Monday.

Department spokesperson, Ben Bole said that pupils were taught about the causes of disasters like dolomite, earthquake and sinkholes.

The campaign reached out to four schools which were hit hard by earthquake in August 2015. Vuyanimawethu, Borakanelo Secondary Schools, Khayalethu and Selang-Thuto Primary Schools were affected during a tremor that hit the area about two years ago.

Matlosana disaster management centre representative, Collen Mofokeng together with Selebogo Molusiwa from Mahikeng local municipality took time to educate pupils on precautionary measures that needed to be taken during an earthquake.

“Stilfontein is immensely built under a dolomitic rock.  So we must replace leaking taps and drainage systems to prevent dolomite from getting water as it will cause sink holes,” Molusiwa said.

Pupils were given leaflets and posters of evacuation plan as well as information on how to prevent sinkholes. They were also given a clear under understanding on what dolomite was and what to do during disaster.

Bole said: “Almost two years ago, the province experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale with a depth of 10km. Orkney was the epicentre. Thirteen houses were completely evacuated as a result of the earthquake. Ten houses in Stilfontein, two in Khuma Location and one at Dinokana village, in Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality were also affected.

“The Provincial Executive Committee declared the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district a provincial earthquake disaster in terms of Section 41 of the Provincial Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 which is administered through the department’s Provincial Management Disaster Centre,” he said.

-TDN

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