Taung - Efforts by North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlement to empower youth by skilling them, has once again came to light following the recent graduation of one hundred and twenty (120) unemployed women from disadvantaged communities of Greater Taung Local Municipality.
They graduated in Fire Fighting and First Aid training which is meant to introduce disaster risk reduction at ward level, to enhance the survival skills of vulnerable communities, especially women and children who bear the brunt of disasters.
Pontsho Kgosieng, a district municipal councillor at Dr Ruth Mompati District - who stood in for MEC Collen Maine at the event - said the training will provide young women with the necessary skills to deal with disaster incidents as and when they arise. “Communities are the backbone of our survival as they are the first people to respond to any incident. This is part of our efforts to ensure that we equip them with the necessary skills to help themselves. They will be able to apply first aid lessons and safe lives or use their fire fighting skills to extinguish fire. Taung was chosen after several disaster incidents which left people vulnerable and exposed to hazards. We expect all graduates to manage all disaster risks and bring change to your communities” remarked Kgosieng.
Kgosieng reassured young people that the department is taking disaster management serious. “Government will continue to avail opportunities for as long as such critical skills are needed, for the sustainability and benefit of our communities. We will continue to put emphasis on the need to pay attention to disaster management services, so that we manage emergencies on time, before they escalate into disasters. This will ensure that the environment, in which our people live, is well secured and protected against harm. This is part of what we mean by safer communities and sustainable human settlements” concluded Kgosieng.
One of the graduates Eunice Maboitshege (26) from Moretele village thinks the First Aid training will help her assist relatives and neighbours in the village. “We were taught handling and usage of fire extinguisher as well as First Aid, which entails Artificial Respiratory (AR) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). With the first aid skill that I now possess, I’ll be able to save the lives of residents in my community. I now know how to assist those who sustained different injuries including stab wounds. I’m intending to make a meaningful contribution to my community since the local clinic is not open 24hours” said Maboitshege.
Another beneficiary Keitumetse Leboe (28) of Lokaleng village, appealed for the employment of more women in Disaster Risk Management. “The training was interesting and challenging at the same time. However my concern is that, there are few women employed in disaster management. In the whole of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, there are only eight (8) women fire fighters and one (1) in management. More women must be employed as Taung is a disaster prone area,” said Leboe.
The training programme is in line with the National and Provincial Disaster Management Policy Framework and the Disaster Management Act. The project seeks to present women from historically disadvantaged communities with information and training on first aid and fire-fighting.
Meanwhile other ten (10) departmental women, working for Fire and Emergency Centres in Greater Taung Municipality were also awarded with certificates of recognition for their valuable contribution in disaster management and fire services and making communities safe. One of them is Moipone Matoonyane who has been a fire fighter for over eight years.
The event was also used to officially launch the International Day for Disaster Reduction – IDDR Conference to held in Rustenburg next month (October).
Enquiries:
Ben Bole, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 4824
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
