The City of Joburg, Dimension Data, Qhubeka and Bhoni4Kasi handed over 293 bicycles to high school pupils in Soweto.
The handover ceremony was held at the Orlando East Communal Hall on Friday. Pupils from Bona High School, Noordgesig Secondary School and Orlando High School received their bicycles from the MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi.
These schools were selected by the City of Joburg which has been working together with Dimesion Data and the Department of Transport. Recipients had to meet a certain qualifying criteria in order to be given a Qhubeka Buffalo Bicycle.
This initiative is aimed at combating the trend of absenteeism and exhaustion experienced by pupils walking to school. Lubabalo Dyantyi from Dimension Data said, “In this region some pupils walk for more than 60 minutes or over 6km to get to school.
“By the time they arrive, they are exhausted. Distance to school is a barrier that can be eliminated by using bicycles. With the bicycles we are donating to pupils, their time spent travelling to school will be reduced by up to 75%.”
Ekasi Cycle and Bhoni4Kasi will be assisting pupils with training in maintenance and bike safety to keep the initiative going.
Raymond Rampolokeng from Bhoni4Kasi said, “The Sowetan cycling scene is changing and we aim to be pioneers of this change.”
In support of this initiative, the City of Joburg has built dedicated cycling paths in Orlando to cater for schools that received bicycles.
Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said, “I think this will have a wonderful effect on the learning process. If pupils cycle to school it will save them time and also benefit them physically. Besides all that, cycling is fun and exciting.”
The MEC is confident that this initiative will encourage residents to make a shift from motorised transport to none motorised transport.
Zandile Masanabo who is doing Grade 10 at Orlando High said, “I’m excited for getting this bike because I will never be late for school. I thank the donors and urge them to do this to other schools as well.”
Phiwokuhle Nayo from Motsoaledi who goes to Bona High shared the same sentiment with Masanabo.
He said, “There is no excuse for being late for school now.”
