Eastern Cape Department of Transport Road Safety Directorate handed out certificates of achievement to 18 learners and 14 mentors who graduated from the department's learnership and mentorship programme, at the Amathole District Office in East London on Tuesday, 6 March 2012.
Traffic Safety Directorate assisted by Human Resource Development, embarked upon a learnership programme for twenty unemployed youths from around the province which was conducted through the University of North West and every month participants had to attend two weeks theory classes and two weeks experiential learning at their respective districts for two years.
Addressing the graduates, provincial director for traffic control Mr Xola Bekebu said, "real education is the one which enables you to think for yourself, apply what you have learnt and also provides a person with the opportunity to unravel and realise their inborn talents and skills of thinking and solving problems on their own."
He further said education is the veritable key to success and that success is more than just accumulation of material wealth and should not be seen as a destination but rather a never ending journey in self-exploration.
Khuthala Swekeni from Cacadu District who received a Cum Laude in Road Safety Audit said, "although we are now reaping the fruits of working hard it was not at all an easy journey, but we managed to go through those difficult times because of our dedication and perseverance".
"It was appraisable for human resource development to promote and accelerate quality training for all in the workplace; as such programmes will improve the standard of living and reduce poverty through increasing employability", added Swekeni.
Subsequent to this learnership programme, 14 road safety officials at supervisory level were taken to a mentorship programme so that they would be able to mentor the youths that are going through the Road Safety learnership programme.
In 2009/10 they went through an internship training programme at their districts and were subsequently employed as road safety officials in 2011.
