Disaster management issues in spotlight
2012-04-05 19:01
Sydney Masinga
Polokwane - Limpopo will use the Easter holidays to embark on a campaign to raise awareness about disaster management issues.
The teams were placed at Kranskop, Moria, Capricorn toll plaza and Haenertsburg on Thursday, said Tseng Diale, spokesperson for the department of co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs.
The province is regularly afflicted by extreme weather conditions from floods to drought as well as malaria and veld fires.
“We want to communicate the prevention and mitigation actions which will reduce the probability and severity of disastrous events,” Diale said.
She said disaster management was everybody’s business and that members of the public should report incidents to their district offices or provincial disaster management centre on the toll free number 0800 222 111.
“In addition, a 24 hour telephone line has been established to enhance communication. Communities are free to call the number at 015 292 9430,” Diale said.
People who go missing during disasters should be reported to the nearest police stations, she added. The campaign will end on Monday.
In January this year, the Mopani district, which includes BaPhalaborwa, Giyani, Letaba, Maruleng and Tzaneen local municipalities, was hardest hit by floods.
Agriculture suffered losses worth R6m when crops of avocados, citrus, mangoes, and maize were decimated.
R21m worth of infrastructure to fences, irrigation equipment, dams, and storerooms was damaged, according to a preliminary report.
Provincial agriculture spokesperson Kenny Mathivha said many emerging and subsistence farmers were severely affected as they weren't covered by insurance.
Mathivha said the 2012 floods were particularly hard as many farmers were still trying to recover from similar devastation in 2010 and 2011.