MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye handed over 36 bicycles to learners at Dumela Secondary School in Julesburg, Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Mopani District.
The occasion was attended by Cheryl Mboweni, Acting District Director for Mopani West Education District, Acting Mopani District Municipality Mayor Cllr Maggie Makwela and Acting Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Shihangule, together with departmental stakeholders, school management and parents. The bicycle donation forms part of the Department’s scholar transport intervention aimed at improving access to education for learners who travel long distances to school.
In her address, the MEC emphasized that the bicycles are intended to help learners get to school safely, on time, and with dignity. She urged parents to ensure the bicycles are used strictly for traveling to and from school. “If the bicycles are misused or not used for schooling purposes, the Department together with the school will have no option but to withdraw them,” MEC Mathye warned.
The handover was well received by the school community. Stakeholders committed to monitoring the use of the bicycles. The Acting Mopani West Education District, Cheryl Mboweni encouraged learners to make the most of this opportunity to improve their attendance and performance.