MEC CELE DELIVERS 97 BICYCLES TO RURAL SCHOOL PUPILS

Left: MEC Cele and Thulani Mangele pictured with three of the children who received bicycles Right: Transport, Community Safety & Liaison MEC Mr. Bheki Cele seen with ACSA Manager Thulani Manqele during the hand over of the bicycles

Learners at Amahlubi Secondary School near Estcourt could not contain their excitement when KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety & Liaison Mr. Bheki Cele handed over 97 bicycles to pupils at the school recently.

The six speed mountain bikes with helmets will make life easier for the school children who travel 20 kilometres and more to and from school everyday. Representatives from the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) moved with empathy when they watched a television news programme and saw school children walking long distances, tired and unenthusiastic to go to school.

ACSA manager Thulani Manqele said: "That is where the idea of bicycles came from; we thought it was very unfair for children to suffer like this when some of us have experienced what those children are going through. We appeal to other private companies to extend their hands to other schools."

One of the recipients of the bicycles, a grade eleven pupil, said she was very excited because the bicycle is going to enable her to give more attention to her studies as she will have more time to rest and be fresh for her classes that start at 7:30am daily. "I was worried because I was not sure if us girls would receive bicycles too; but now I'm over the moon because I received one and I know how to ride," she giggled.

The handover ceremony was attended by various representatives including parents, the school governing body, Department of Education, Department of Transport and ACSA.

A spokesperson for the school governing body said: "We are thrilled because most of the time we are gathered in this fashion for events such as a memorial service and so on, but today we have all the provincial government representatives with us for an exciting celebration," he said.

The Amahlubi Secondary school choir composed songs for the Department of Transport and ACSA which were sung in such a manner that even MEC Cele and Thulani Manqele were inspired to join in the singing and dancing.

The school principal said: "It is an unusual thing for our school to receive gifts and we are very grateful to the sponsors. I hope this is only the start of better things to come."

The Department of Transport's Road Safety officers will visit the school to teach the children about road safety, especially when riding a bicycle.

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