North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono says that her department will intensify mobilisation of all sectors and communities to strengthen the global movement that is demanding real action against road accidents.
MEC Mohono’s expression of support for the Make Roads Safe and United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 Campaigns was delivered in a keynote address delivered at the Provincial Road Safety Debate Competition held on Friday in Mahikeng.
In her speech delivered on her behalf by Bailey Mahlakoleng, Acting Head of Department for the Public Safety Branch of the department, Mohono stressed that safety is a cornerstone of operational efficiency in the road and transport industry hence her department will continue to put in place building blocks that will ensure that interventions in this regard are not only sustainable but deliver tangible results and directly lead to safety of all road users.
A dynamic five member debating team of learners from Mafikeng High School scooped the hotly contested championship to win a whooping R15 000. In addition to medals, certificates of recognition for their participation, road safety booklets and school bags, each member of the winning team stands to receive R3 000 each.
The Mafikeng High School team had wrestled with the Rustenburg based Fields College in the final round after successfully eliminating Pudumoe High School in the opening rounds, while Fields College successfully purged Potchefstroom Secondary School.
The three girls and two boys secured themselves a place in the National Road Safety debate competition to be held in KwaZulu-Natal later this year by outclassing Fields College in the final round of the competition.
The MEC encouraged the team proceeding to represent the province at the national championship to spread the call for the youth to stand up and be counted as ambassadors of a new patriotism and campaigners for road safety.
“Working together we can do more to turn the tide of the carnage on our roads in order to reduce fatalities and injuries that are brought about by non-compliance with rules of the road,” she emphasised.
The annual road safety debate competition is aimed at encouraging learners to be aware of road safety issues, teach learners to take responsibility for road safety issues that affect their communities, develop and enhance learner’s presentation, communication and listening skills.
The road safety debating competitions further provides young people with an opportunity to play a significant role in advocating and networking with their peers on the five pillars of the Global Plan on Road Safety which focus on road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users and improved crash response.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
