Sterkfontein Caves re-opened
The caves were closed for tests to be conducted to ensure that it is suitable for the thousands of visitors that pass through it each year.
The public can visit the Sterkfontein Caves again after it was closed temporary in February for routine stability tests.
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) conducted the tests, which are being done every five years to ensure that the caves still are able to accommodate the thousands of visitors that pass through it each year.
In 2012 alone over 100 000 people passed through the caves.
Wits had appointed Professor Nielen van der Merwe, who has experience in rock engineering, to advise on the tests.
Tony Rubin, Managing Director of Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure (the company that manages the cave on behalf of Wits) says that the safety of visitors is their first priority.
“It is therefore imperative for us to undertake these routine tests. Now that the tests have been completed we confidently can invite visitors to come and explore these majestic caves with us again.”
He says that it is also a standard requirement in caves around the world and visitors will receive hard hats to wear while they are inside the caves.
“This adds to the fun factor of exploring the caves – you can just see the excitement on the children’s faces as they put on their colourful head gear,” Rubin concludes.
