REPORT ON SCHOOLS VISIT TO REKOPANTSWE AREA OFFICE (NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA
DISTRICT) IN MAFIKENG, NORTHWEST PROVINCE
Executive Summary
This report provides feedback on the schools visit that took place on the 21 April, 2012.
Program
1.
Welcome and introduction of Educators
from some schools
Mrs
B
Mora
(Physical Science
Senior
Education
Specialist) as well
as the office of the
Manager
2.
Introduction of SAYNPS and WiNSA
GS
3.
Presentation on Basic Radiation Principles
GS
4.
Presentation on Nuclear Power Plants (how
it works and associate video materials)
GS
5.
Presentation of other
Nuclear Technology
GS
6.
Interaction with learners
All
7.
Vote of thanks
Mrs B Mora and
learners
representatives
from each school
8.
Lunch and closure
applications
of
Acknowledgements
On behalf of SAYNPS, I (Gaopalelwe Santswere) would like to thank Mr Siphithi Sibeko (Aberdare
Cables) for sponsoring SAYNPS in the amount of R 5000.00, Mr Ross Wylie from Macsteel Corporate
Services for generously offering beverages for the day, Department of Energy (DoE), National
Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and Macsteel Corporate Services for providing learners with promotional
materials illustrating the importance of the event. Your support will open many new opportunities for
us as young men and women as well as helping develop the culture of learning among schools. Your
contribution has enabled SAYNPS to participate in highly distinguished career exhibition and
mentorship event, and these events will further broaden our vision and objectives, on and off the
classroom, which is invaluable to SAYNPS future endeavours. As you can imagine, there are many
expenses involved in managing a high-calibre events like this. Your sponsorship has provided
transport for members to successful execute the purpose of the event. Your contribution is not just a
charitable contribution, but is also an advertising opportunity. Without the support of people like you,
we would not be able to reach our goals. Thank you once again for your generous support to
SAYNPS. We also like to thank Mr B Mora and her Manager from Rekopantswe Area Office for
extending the invitation to SAYNPS for participation on events as important as this one, we hope this
is the beginning of a long term relationship with the aim of continuously empowering learners as their
the future leaders.
Report
st
On Saturday, the 21 April 2012, SAYNPS members visited some of the schools around
Rekopantswe Area Office under Physical Sciences in Mafikeng, North West Province with the aim of
informing learners about nuclear energy and safe use of nuclear technology. There were 10 schools
invited for that event which were: Boitseanape Technical Secondary School, Mosikare Secondary
School, Seleje Secondary School, Mmoledi High School, Batswana High School, Kebalepile High
School, Masscom Technical School, Ramaine High School, Maselwanyane High School, and
Mogakolodi-Masibi High School.
The members who visited those Schools are:

Reuben Makgae (DoE),

Gaopalelwe Santswere (Eskom Nuclear Client Office),
The visit resulted from an invitation that was extended to SAYNPS, to make presentations to pupils in
Mafikeng. Some of the presentations were similar to those that were made in Dr Ruth Mompathi
District during the National Science Week schools visit program, with added materials from
construction industry to make it worthwhile, especially since R400 Billion is about to be spend on
construction of 9 600 MWe of Nuclear Power Plants. Gaopalelwe Santswere (Eskom) has been
instrumental and also actively involved in ensuring that the visit takes place.
Members were welcomed by Rekopantswe Physical Science Senior Education Specialist (Mrs.
Botshelo Mora) and her Area Manager in a School Hall where a group of about 150 learners from
grades 12 and four teachers assembled. They attentively listened to presentations about SAYNPS,
WiNSA (Women in Nuclear South Africa), Introduction to Basic Radiation Principles, Different Energy
Sources, other applications of nuclear technology and Pressurized Water Reactor Primary Water
Chemistry or PWR Coolant Technology, then some information on the construction of this Nuclear
Power Station. They also watched short clips which showed the devastating impact that was made by
the earth quake and Tsunami, on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the incident in
March 2011. As well as a video of how electricity is produced in a nuclear power plant. The learners
also had the opportunity to ask any questions they had about energy and nuclear technology.
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Figure 1: Learners attentively listening to introductory presentations of SAYNPS and WiNSA.
Figure 2: Different learners from different schools looking to understand the contents of presentations
3
Figure 3: Mr. Santswere, Mrs Mora and her daughter together with some learner during interactions
with learners after presentation how does a Nuclear Power Plants works.
4
The Department of Energy (DoE), National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), Macsteel Corporate Services
and Necsa provided promotional material to give to the learners and the school. SAYNPS would like
to extend our gratitude to them for their generous support for programme of this nature.
Figure 4: Promotional material received by learners.
Conclusion
A group of about 150 learners gained information on nuclear energy, positive use of nuclear
technology and last but least project management and safety culture during construction works. The
event was a great success because it stimulated learners to think about nuclear technology and also
gained insight about possible careers in the nuclear industry.
Prepared
G Santswere
Reviewed
R Makgae
Accepted
F Khathi
2012/04/21
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