Road Safety Education Programme received a major boost after Anglo Platinum awarded scholar patrol equipment valued at R250 000 to 10 primary schools from around Rustenburg at a handover function held at Reuben Monare Primary School in Tlhabane on Tuesday.
The equipment donated to schools which constitute the first phase of Anglo Platinum’s Community Safety Programme (CSP) is to be used to regulate traffic during morning and afternoon peak hours. The programme which targets schools within 50 kilometres of the Anglo Platinum’s operations is implemented in partnership with the North West Departments of Public Safety and Education and is intended to inculcate the culture of road safety among learners and the general motorists.
A reconnaissance survey conducted by Anglo Platinum in May 2009 had identified safety of learners at pedestrian crossings as a major safety issue and after engaging the Provincial Public Safety Department with a proposal for a partnership to implement behaviour based CSP, scholar safety at crossing points was identified as the appropriate intervention.
Company representative, Norah Segwai, who handed over the equipment, said that the programme is an extension of Anglo Platinum’s Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Strategy’s Zero Harm Vision into the affected and interested communities.
“CSP has a vision of communities that understand and value safety in all aspects of life. This will be achieved through engagement with communities to create and improve safety awareness.” added Segwai.
In conveying appreciation for the partnership on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, Lazurus Sentsho, Head of Road Safety in the Bojanala District emphasised that the handover is a built up event towards the launch of an interdepartmental road safety campaign leading to the Football World Cup to be launched in March this year.
Reuben Monareng, Lekwakwa, Bochshoek, Bothibelelo, Platinum, Dinkwe, Lesetlheng SG Ntuane, Lefaragatlha and Barseba Primary Schools were the proud recipients of school patrol stop signs, reflector jackets, caps and whistles, rain coats and gloves.
Road safety officers from the Department of Public Safety are to provide ongoing road safety education to support implementation of the scholar patrol programme by the respective schools in collaboration with the local municipalities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
3 February 2010
