 
SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL HEAD OF TRANSPORT DR KWAZI MBANJWA DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT’S 2002 ABET CLASS
Programme Director Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for allowing me to join in the graduation ceremony of our 218 KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s officials today. I first of all wish to congratulate the recipients of ABET Certificates and everybody involved in making this day a success. This is indeed a great day not only for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport but also for the families of all graduating students present here today. As the Head of Department, I am accountable for the development of our staff within the Department. This explains why I am so excited whenever the name ABET is mentioned. Our Department has taken the responsibility of Adult Basic Education very serionusly and is making every effort to ensure that employees are given the opportunity to receive basic education, not only to comply with legislation but most importantly to help build strong economic base in the province. Education and literacy are very important for us in that they together ensure that we have staff that can read, write and be able to identify road signs and signals and can save their own lives including those of others. This graduation ceremony therefore means a lot to us as the Department of Transport because it means we have more literate people now who can interpret road signs and thereby save their own lives and those of others. President Thabo Mbeki gave a very prophetic warning to our nation during the launch of South African Democracy Education Trust last year when he said "The danger of ignorance and forgetfulness is greatest now that we have won our liberation struggle". It was imperative therefore that we heed the warning made by our President. I am happy too that our staff have taken this opportunity thereby confirming the saying that "knowledge is power". In short these are some of the reasons why Adult Basic Education (ABET) is so important:
ABET is an important vehicle in the social, political and economic development of the workers. It enables learners to make informed judgements and decisions to ensure a democratic workplace, province and ultimately a democratic South Africa. Through it learners begin to enjoy a certain degree of independence and can learn how to apply for such facilities like telephones, ID, pension, licence and be able to read a menu in a restaurant. The KZN Department of Transport has a multi-faced ABET programme. In terms of the skills development Act No 97 of 1998, all employees in South Africa must have a literacy qualification of at least STD 3 or Grade 5 by the year 2005. As early as 1997 the KZN Department of Transport did a survey to establish the number of employees who would like to partake in the programme. In-house tutors were recruited and trained and teaching commenced in Pietermaritzburg as a pilot project. This project paid special attention to rural regions of our Department. All students wrote the Independent Examination Board (IEB) Exams resulting in 253 graduates since 1999 to date on various English Literacy Levels. One of our greatest achievements in this programme was in 1998 when three of our newly literate staff members at our Head Office moved out of their messenger positions to clerical posts with a significant increase in salary and viable career path. In one instance a messenger became a trained cashier within the Motor Licensing Bureau. In another instance, a man who had been a messenger obtained his matric certificate and today he is a qualified traffic officer. In congratulating recipients of ABET certificates I want to remind all and sundry about the wisdom found in our Zulu proverb which says "Imfundo Ayikhulelwa". This literally means that there is no age restriction in education and that you learn until you die. Now that you have got your ABET certificates, you will see how convenient life will be for you, your friends and relatives. You will begin to be independent and have confidence in yourselves, which is so necessary at workplace. The journey however, does not end there. Working within the transport sector it is important for you to participate in all the Department’s programmes that are currently in place. I have myself read shocking stories of people who have been knocked down by cars simply because they could not read road signs. As you further your studies you will have to be involved in educating other people about road safety. Congratulations! I thank you.
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