Minister Nzimande welcomes the council for Geoscience response to the KZN Earthquake

07 November 2022 Hits: 1

Minister Nzimande welcomes the council for Geoscience response to the KZN Earthquake

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, welcomes the swift response by the Council for Geoscience (CGS) for sending its team of technical experts following two earthquakes that took place in KwaZulu Natal over the weekend.

According to the CGS, South African should not panic following these two earthquakes which did not occur along the same geological structure (fault). However these earthquakes might be inter-related on a much more regional scale.

On Sunday, 06 November 2022, at around 09:29, an earthquake took place in the Nkangala approximately 40 km north of Kokstad of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. It registered a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 on the local magnitude scale as recorded by the South African Seismograph Network (SANSN).

A separate earthquake occurred on Saturday, 05 November 2022, at around 14:32, with the epicentre located approximately 40 km north-east of Greytown and 30 km east of Tugela Ferry in the Umvoti Local Municipality. This earthquake also registered a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 on the local magnitude scale as recorded by the SANSN.

Minister Nzimande said the CGS is one of our National Science Councils of South Africa and a custodian of the South African Seismograph Network (SANSN), which monitors seismic wave activities throughout the Country. It is a modern institution, boasting excellent facilities and expertise and ranking among the best in Africa and the world over.

"The CGS is rendering geoscience knowledge services and advises the State to enable informed and scientifically based decisions on the use of the earth's surface and the earth's resources, within the territory of South Africa," said Minister Nzimande.

Minister Nzimande said that it is pleasing that the CGS has adopted innovation in executing its mandate by integrating drone technology in providing novel way of capturing geoscience data to gain a perspective of the Earth that is simply not possible using instruments that are ground based. The CGS has already trained seven drone pilots who have been accredited by the Civil Aviation Authority and who are insured to undertake commercial operations.

The CGS also held workshops on tsunami formations and impacts both far-field and nearshore to South Africa, with various targeted stakeholders to enhance the awareness of earthquake risks, hazards as well as identify any gaps and find potential solutions took place.

"The CGS is currently advancing collaboration prospects with the SA Weather Services, the Department of Human Settlements, National Disaster Management Centre and other institutions in order to develop an early warning based on the geo-hazard susceptibility risk matrix," said Minister Nzimande.

Minister Nzimande said government will continue to invest in scientific research and development (R&D) by increasing research, technology and innovation enablers, particularly by promoting science, engineering and technology in South Africa education system to ensure that institutions such as the CGS are always capacitated to have the necessary technical skills to respond to their mandate.

Issued by:

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Meiring Naude Road

Brummeria

Pretoria

Enquiries: Ishmael Mnisi 066037885

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