October is Public Transport Month: High school learners from all provinces have gathered in the Limpopo capital, Polokwane this week to debate interventions required to reduce road crashes and improve road safety in the South Africa.
The debates, which started today (Tuesday October 04, 2016), will culminate in a gala event on Friday where the winning provincial teams will receive awards. All the daily debating sessions are open to the public and the media.
The project was first piloted in 2007 and has since become a feature project of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and Provinces. The Road Safety Debate Competition is aimed at secondary school learners and is conducted in line with the World Style of Debating.
The Competition is initially held at district, regional and provincial levels. The elimination competitions lead to the best learners (not necessarily from the same school) representing their provinces at the national competition which is held on an annual basis.
The competition also encompasses participatory education techniques, to encourages learners to identify road safety problems in their communities and to find researched solutions to the problems. The various teams employ different participatory methods such as engineering skills, dramatic arts, arts and crafts skills, public speaking and English language proficiency to present their problems and solutions.
The National Competition is held over a number of days where learners participate in elimination rounds culminating into the semi-finals and final competition. Winners are then acknowledged at a gala function.
The event is well patronised by stakeholders which includes politicians, representatives from non-governmental organisations, celebrities, private sector representatives and officials from metropolitans, provinces and local authorities.
The event this year is hosted by the Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in collaboration with the Limpopo department of transport.
The topic for the final debate is:
1. Traffic Law Enforcement in South Africa is adequate to ensure adherence to the rules of the road.
This is a project undertaken in response to the Decade of Action objectives to reduce road deaths by 50% in South Africa by 2020. MEC’s of Roads and Transport from various provinces are expected to attendance the award ceremony to with various transport stakeholders on Friday.
Details: National School Debates Competition Finals
Date: Friday, 7 October 2016
Venue: Bolivia Lodge
Address: Road R81, 600m From Mall Of The North, Limpopo Province
Time: 6h30
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Spokesperson of the RTMC
Tel: 012 999 5320
Cell: 082 551 9892
All members of the Media wishing to attend the prize-giving gala dinner are invited to RSVP with Luthando Ngilana on Luthandon@rtmc.co.za /071 680 3445.
