Pretoria - Cabinet has sent condolences to the family and friends of a man who lost his life as a result of the earthquake, on Tuesday.
The man in Kanana, Orkney, suffered from severe injuries after a wall fell on him. He died before paramedics arrived at the scene.
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, on behalf of Cabinet also wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
“Through the National Disaster Management, government is attending to the affected communities,” he said on Thursday, while briefing media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held this week.
The earthquake, which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale, reportedly affected parts of Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. Tremors were also felt in Botswana and Swaziland, and as far afield as Mozambique.
About 26 families from Khuma location in Stilfontein, east of Klerksdorp, whose homes were badly damaged by earth tremor, are receiving temporary accommodation and basic needs from government.
It caused structural damages to more than 400 houses and buildings in places including Khuma, Kanana, Tigane, Alabama and Jouberton.
North West Disaster Relief Fund
Meanwhile, the North West provincial government has since opened a bank account in which donations can be made to help rebuild destroyed houses and public buildings in the province.
The North West Disaster Relief Fund -- account number 6248 7927 603 -- has been opened at First National Bank, and will be managed by the Provincial Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development.
North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo on Wednesday called on South Africans and interested organisations to help out by donating to the account.
He said the donations will help deliver aid in most affected areas.
“As government, we remain highly committed to help rebuild the destroyed houses, repair the affected public buildings, and restore calm - particularly in Khuma location and Stilfontein, where more than 600 families have been affected by this occurrence,” said Premier Mahumapelo.
Premier Mahumapelo also said a call centre will be set up to coordinate information about the aftermath of the earth tremor. – SAnews.gov.za
