Update: Sterkfontein Cave temporarily closed
The Sterkfontein Cave is closed so that routine stability tests can be undertaken by the University of the Witwatersrand.
The University of the Witwatersrand and Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure announced today that the Sterkfontein Cave will be closed to visitors for about 7 weeks, in order for routine stability tests to be undertaken.
These stability tests are undertaken every five years to ensure that the Cave is stable enough to accommodate the thousands of visitors and learners that pass through the Cave every year. In 2012, over 100 000 people passed through the Sterkfontein Cave.
The last routine stability test was undertaken five years ago.
“The safety of our visitors to the Cave is our first priority, and it is therefore imperative for us to undertake these routine tests. We are hopeful that it will be completed by mid-March. We would like to apologise in advance to the public for any inconvenience caused during this period,” says Tony Rubin, Managing Director of Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure, the company that manages the Cave on behalf of the University.
“The Sterkfontein exhibition centre and coffee shop, as well as Maropeng, the official visitor centre of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, remains fully operational.”
The University has appointed Nielen van der Merwe, Professor of rock engineering, to advise on the tests to be undertaken.
“We will take bookings from schools from April and May onwards,” adds Rubin.
“We will keep the public and the media informed of progress and the re-opening date via our websites – www.maropeng.co.za and www.wits.ac.za.”
Sterkfontein Caves closed due to inclement weather
10 February
The Sterkfontein Caves have been closed temporarily owing to unstable conditions in the cave that were caused by adverse weather conditions.
Maropeng, the official visitors centre of the Cradle of Humankind, has sought advice from experts from the University of the Witwatersrand and, based on their recommendations, decided to close the site temporarily.
We are confident that the caves will be accessible to the public again soon. In the meantime all other exhibitions and tourist attractions at Maropeng will continue as usual, says Tony Rubin, Managing Director of Maropeng.
Keep an eye on Maropengs website at www.maropeng.co.za for further updates on when the Sterkfontein Caves will be open to the public again.
