Old Mutual in Partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the Department of Transport is donating scholar patrol kits worth more than R320 000 to underprivileged schools across the country to support Government’s drive to deliver efficient, reliable and safe transport services.
In Mpumalanga the first roll out of this initiative will commence at Belfast Academy and Ukhwezi Primary School in Belfast, Emakhazeni Municipality. The official handover of the scholar patrol kits will be held in an event scheduled for 9 February 2015, 13h00 at Ukhwezi Primary School, Belfast.
South Africa has one of the highest per capita road death statistics in the world (13 800 a year). These statistics include the fact that, on average, three children under the age of 15 lose their lives on our roads every day, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
There are 8 Schools in Mpumalanga in 2015 that stand to benefit from his initiative, namely Belfast Academy, Ukhwezi Primary School, Cana Combined School, Qhubekani Combined School, Piet Retief Combined School, Yellowstone Primary School, Kwamashamhlophe Primary School and Ndawonye Primary School.
The kits consist of reflective bibs, caps and raincoats and will be accompanied by an intensive road safety training program presented by the Department of Transport to the learners and teachers of the selected schools.
The scholar patrol campaign contributes to government’s commitment to the United Nations’ international Decade of Action for Road Safety campaign, which aims to save at least 5 million lives across the globe in the next 10 years.
For this initiative, the selected schools are those situated on very busy roads and which have learners who walk to school daily often without any adult supervision.
The media is invited.
For enquiries please contact:
Sharri Mattera (Old Mutual)
Cell: 082 736 0578
E-mail: smattera@oldmutual.com
Mr Jasper Zwane
Cell: 083 743 1804
E-mail: j.zwane@education.mpu.gov.za
