Malamulele - Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga handed over 257 Shova Kalula bicycles to learners in Vhembe. The bicycles were given to qualifying learners of Shirelele Secondary school, and Hlalukweni. The Shova Kalula bicycles are given to learners who walk more than 3 kilometres to school to ensure that they arrive at school on time. The event that was part of the Back-to-school Campaign and Cycling Safety Education Awareness was held at the Worship Tabernacle Christian Church just outside Malamulele town. Another 541 bicycles were handed over to four more identified schools in Musina, Makhado and Thulamela Local Municipalities to make the total of 798 bicycles that were distributed in the Vhembe District early this week. The Deputy Minister is planning to provide a total of 1400 bicycles to the province to reach the target set for 2023.

The Deputy Minister stated that since 2001, they have distributed over hundred thousand bicycles to the learners in townships and rural areas to reach a target of 1 million in the country.

 “The Department has been distributing the bicycles to maximize the use of low-cost non-motorized transport to enable learners especially in the rural areas who walk at least 3 kilometres but not more than 5 kilometres to school to access basic education needs,” said Deputy Minister Chikunga. She further outlined that the department will assist in providing road safety to all the beneficiaries.

Deputy Minister Chikunga encouraged and invited learners to apply for bursary opportunities in transport related fields such as Aeronautical studies, Aviation, Civil Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Road traffic Engineering studies.  Learners were also encouraged and motivated to focus on their studies and show more resilience and willingness to keep trying when faced with challenges.

Story by: Mankoe Manamela