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Member of Executive Council (MEC) Gloria Barry and South Africa's famous silent voyager Charl de Villiers to address the graduation ceremony of disabled road accident victims
30 October 2008
To mark the end of the 2008 October Transport month programme, Eastern Cape MEC for Roads and Transport, Ms Gloria Barry and South Africa's famous silent voyager Charl de Villiers will address the graduation ceremony of 10 road accidents victims tomorrow, Friday, 31 October 2008 at the head office in Schornville, King Williams Town, at 10h00.
The ceremony marks the end of a week long empowerment programme for the disabled bus and taxi accidents and violence victims, who received training on skills to sustain themselves with a particular focus on tyre repairs, welding, seat repairs, leather work and introduction to business skills.
The beneficiaries, who are from areas such as Phakamisa, Zwelitsha, Sweetwaters and Dimbaza, needed more training on the use of the equipment purchased for them by the Department of Roads and Transport and are currently doing advanced business skills, wheelchair repairing and computer skills.
The department bought two containers (R11 000.00), tyre repair machine (R29 000.00) and welding kit (R7 000.00). A leather sewing machine was sponsored by Uncedo Taxi Association (R7 000.00) and a computer sponsored by Vulindlela Office Solutions. The containers will be handed to the beneficiaries when all the necessary training has been completed.
De Villiers will be a special guest and give a motivational speech based on his experiences as the first deaf sailor to circumnavigate the world single-handedly. He is expected to share the experiences of his epic 2004 voyage in his 11.2 m Tartan yacht.
His amazing feat started in March 2004 when he sailed from Palacios in Texas. Seven months and 13 days later, he was welcomed back by 300 people, including family members, at the same spot. His journey took him through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific and Indian oceans. He, however, overcame equipment failures, adverse weather conditions, a near collision with a freighter, and even fell victim to a robbery on his yacht.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 442 2388
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
30 October 2008