The five learners who were representing Mpumalanga province in the National Road Safety Debates have won the competition which was held in Port Elizabeth yesterday, 26 September 2013.
These learners from different schools in the province were chosen as the best during Provincial Road Safety Debate finals coordinated by the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison which was held in Lydenburg in August this year.
The debate was initiated in 2004 after the road accident statistics showed that at least 40% of fatalities involved young people aged from 0-25. Road Safety Debates is therefore dedicated to young road users who travel the roads as pedestrians, cyclist, motorcyclist, novice drivers and passengers.
The Mpumalanga province was the first to introduce the debates and it became number one nationally in the year 2007 and 2010. Learners from Secondary schools are the ones targeted and this year, they debated on motions such as the importance of wearing seatbelt to decrease road carnage, young road users are the ones who are risk takers, the introduction of graduate driver’s license to reduce road accidents, and the impact made between road safety education and law enforcement.
The team under the guidance of Mrs Ajayi Olutoyin was named the best among other provinces. Each of five learners received R20 000 cash price, books for their schools and I- Pads.Olutoyin was also named the best coach while one learner, Felicity Mhlongo was named the best presenter.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe welcomed the development saying that he believes the debates would play a critical role in producing responsible future drivers.
He said he believed increased awareness on road safety among the learners would contribute towards enhancing road safety in the country and thus reduce accidents which continue to claim lives on the roads.
“Whilst we congratulate these learners and their coach, we must also support any initiatives that could help us reduce deaths and injuries on our roads,” added Shongwe.
Shongwe said he believed the initiative would further encourage other learners to realise the importance of joining the debates in order to learn more about road safety.
“This is the beginning of their journey; we want to see road safety ambassadors in them. We believe that our communities will have better knowledge and be safe through them,” said Shongwe.
The names of the learners are as follows:
- Hazel Nkosi – KaMhola Secondary School (Ehlanzeni Region)
- Zanele Ngwenya – Masizakhe Secondary School (Gert Sibande Region)
- Bongiwe Gambu – Starwest Combined School (Gert Sibande Region)
- Thabo Malekane – Mashishing Secondary School (Bohlabela Region)
- Felicity Mhlongo – Mahhushe Agricultural High School (Ehlanzeni Region)
Enquiries:
Moeti Mmusi
Tel: 013 766 4037
Cell: 084 411 3372 or 079 291 0664
