North West Government commend women for completing in heavy drivers vehicle world championship

North West Provincial Government has commended two South African women who are taking part in the 28th World Professional Driver’s Championships.

Speaking on behalf of the North West Premier, Thandi Modise at the welcoming ceremony of the world heavy vehicles drivers held at Sun City Resort on Wednesday, Human Settlement and Public Safety MEC, Nono Maloi said women must not fear to compete in male dominated events.

“The World Championship takes place at the time where all of us here in South Africa are celebrating Women’s day.

This competition provides an ideal opportunity for us to embrace this significant day where fervent female drivers compete on an equitable basis with their male counterparts with the intention to excel,” he said.

North West Province is the first province to host the 28th World Professional Driver’s Championships not only in South Africa but in the entire African continent.

This year’s world professional driver’s championship occurs against the background of existing road safety campaigns and interventions by the South African Government, which include the United Nations decade of action for road safety.

The main goal of this world completion is to enhance the skills and the attitude of heavy vehicle professional drivers in South Africa and the world and to also improve the standards of heavy vehicle driving and ultimately reduce road crashes.

The heavy vehicle profession is mainly dominated by male in the entire world but many women are joining the profession.

Lettah Mokhutswane of Mabopane Township is a women employee at the City of Tshwane Bus Service who is one of the two South African women participants in the world driver championship.

She expressed her delight for being part of the world championship that is predominately dominated by male drivers.

“I am very excited for not only being part of this competition but for also representing the country and particularly the women in the transport sector.

We must prove to the world that South African women have got many skills even in the male dominated fields, she said proudly.

Another women driver, Lindiwe Mtshali from Lady Smith Local Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal also expressed joy for being part of the world heavy vehicle driver’s competition.

“I am very glad to be amongst the few women not only in South Africa but in the world to participate in the competition initially entered only by the males.

I just hope that my participation will open door for other women who wanted to join but could not simple for the reason that they are women,” she said.
Others few women who are participating in this completion are from countries which include Finland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Italy.

Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
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