Drivers' Learnership Programme
17 July 2007
As pronounced by MEC Thobile Mhlahlo last week, the Eastern Cape Department
of Roads and Transport will start with a Learner Driver Education Pilot Project
for 50 grade 11 learners from the Nelson Mandela Metro this Saturday, 21 July
2007, in Port Elizabeth.
This phase will be followed by a second phase where learners will do the
learners licence. After that, they will then do the driving test. All 50 of
them will do the learners and only 25 will continue to do the drivers because
of finances. So the Department, therefore, calls upon the private sector to
partner with us to do all 50 grade 11s so that when they exit at grade 12, they
have valid drivers' licences.
The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that when these learners leave
school, they already possess the required basic skills to be competent drivers
with proper attitudes for driving on a public road.
Our first target is the group of learners, who are already participating in
the maths and science project that the Department is running in conjunction
with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Engen.
We have realised the importance of investing on road safety initiatives
through deliberate and determined efforts of many sectors of society, both
governmental and non-governmental.
This year the focus is on young road users including young drivers,
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists who make up a high proportion of those
suffering death, injury and disability on the roads.
Contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 442 2388
Cell: 073 2066 569
Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
17 July 2007
