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10 October 2008

Programme director
Councillors present
Members of Fraserburg High School and Malherbe Human Intermediate School
Members of the School Governing Bodies (SGB)
Officials of the department
Ladies and gentlemen

After an exhausting three days’ programme of cabinet meets the people here in the District of Namakwa, it is with pleasure to be among the people of Fraserburg again this week, especially the learners who are recipients of these bicycles.

Studies indicate that children who walk long distances to and from school get to school already tired and this affects their performance in class, subsequently affecting their progress in school. In extreme cases, children who often walk long distances to schools even die on our roads. This, indeed, is a sad situation that we should always strive to curb.

Our figures indicate that approximately 32 percent of the population of the Northern Cape Province is of school going age; this percentage, ladies and gentlemen, represents our province’s engineers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, and so forth. It is our duty, therefore to protect this group.

Consequently, it is against this background that the National Department of Transport initiated the Shova Kalula Bicycle Project as a means of providing intermediate and yet affordable and healthy means of transport to people in poorly resourced rural areas.

The event today bears testimony to our efforts in the improved mobility of learners from here in the Namakwa District. In 2003 we made a commitment that we will start on a course of delivering bicycles to schools, particularly to those rural schools that are historically marginalised in the Northern Cape Province.

We are compelled to put much effort in accelerating the modes of mobility in rural areas. We acknowledge that public transport in the rural areas of our province is characterised by high costs, lack of adequate road safety programmes, and an acute lack of infrastructure in terms of roads and shelters.

It is our key responsibility to ensure that scholars of the Northern Cape Province have access to education without having to walk long distances to and from schools.

Ladies and gentlemen, I happily stand before you and announce that today we are handing out thirty bicycles to the school children of Fraserburg and five to the school children of Sutherland. Through Shova Kalula in the province, in collaboration with the Department of Education as well as municipalities, a total number of 187 schools and 7371 scholars in the Northern Cape were identified.

Indeed, the partnership with local government and schools has assisted us a great deal in identifying learners who walk long distances to and from schools. We however can never be alone in this endeavour. We are forging strong partnerships with private sector and civil society to promote cycling and the rollout of bicycles.

Certainly, with the thirty bicycles that we are distributing to the learners today, we are saying to the learners from now there shall be no excuses for late comers at school.

The core focus of Shova Kalula, meaning “paddle easily” when translated, is to promote the usage of bicycles as a means of transport in areas where people are restricted by mobility, particularly in the rural areas. The key objective of this programme is to improve accessibility and mobility and limiting walking distances for scholars in rural areas.

Moreover, in line with the forthcoming Arrive Alive campaign which starts in December, these scholars will also soon undergo a road safety education course which will be conducted by the Department of Safety and Liaison.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to mention that one of the most important aspects of the Shova Kalula programme is the maintenance and the sustainability of these bicycles. The maintenance of these bicycles depends on our partnership; but most importantly, it is the responsibility of the scholars themselves to ensure that these bicycles are well looked after.

I would also like to appeal to the teachers present here today that we ensure that the usage of these bicycles by these learners is part and parcel of our parenting responsibility. Your assistance will ensure that the Shova Kalula programme is sustainable and continues to benefit generations to come.

Programme director, the month of October is Transport Month. This annual event in our calendar was launched in October 2005 by the National Department of Transport. Its key objective is to raise awareness of the role of transport in the South African economy and also to invite participation from civil society in providing a reliable transport system for the country.

Throughout the month of October we will be trotting throughout the province, ensuring that our transport system makes a huge impact on the lives of our people. Indeed, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge today the presence of those who work tirelessly in ensuring that this event is a success.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Northern Cape Provincial Government
10 October 2008